Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Rudy Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” was the first contestant fired in the new season of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” and fans immediately disagreed with Trump’s reasoning behind his decision.
Trump explained to Pulliam in the boardroom that she failed in her position as project manager because she refused to make one big call. He believed reaching out to her former co-star, Bill Cosby, would have helped secure her extra funds for the bake sale that she and her all-female team were hosting.
The reference to Cosby caused controversy given the numerous recent rape allegations against him. Trump argued later on his Twitter account that those allegations did not play into his decision because the show was taped before the alleged victims began to step forward in October.
This show was taped just before the terrible Bill Cosby revelations came to light.She still should have asked him for money-goes to charity.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2015
Pulliam argued that it was “not her place” to call Cosby for such a favor because she had not spoken with him in she didn’t “know how long.” She said she only sees him at “Cosby” anniversary events, but Trump would not accept that excuse.
“I really believe, if you’d called that gentleman, he would’ve helped you, even if you hadn’t spoken to him in years, because you were an amazing team with one of the most successful shows ever,” Trump said.
In addition to the ill-timed Cosby connection, the premiere episode also featured the late Joan Rivers, who won the second season of “The Celebrity Apprentice” in 2009.
