It's On Like Aubrey-Kong: Aubrey O'Day vs. Arsenio Hall in 'The Celebrity Apprentice'

Normally I only do reviews for music and films but I wanted to take the time to write about something I feel quite passionate about, and I think I will continue to do this every time I get the inspiration to.

For anyone who watched the latest episode of The Celebrity Apprentice from across the pond was sure to have seen some incredible fireworks in its 3 hour drama piece. After the first elimination the teams were switched up, leaving the female team ‘Forte’ forced to interact with the male team ‘Unanimous’.

Now let’s cut to the chase: a bitter argument erupted between contestants Aubrey O’Day and Arsenio Hall, after Hall stated that O’Day tried to take credit for something in the task she didn’t do. It resulted in Hall, as well as other team members labelling Aubrey as “not a team player”, and agreeing that if the team lose the challenge, Aubrey should be fired.  By some miracle Hall’s team, to which he was the project manager for, actually won the task. But as the winning group went back to the lounge to watch the rest of the show unfold, visibly emotional Aubrey decided not to follow her team, opting to take the lift out of Trump Towers, seemingly eliminating herself from the show in the process.

Arsenio Hall

I have a number of problems with both contestants, although I must say, Aubrey is- or was my favourite out of the remaining cast members. Hall has had it out for O’Day for a while, as he previously described her as “so self-righteous” and that it was no surprise that Diddy ended up firing her from her former girl group Danity Kane. But what’s funny is that a number of things O’Day was called out on during this episode were very reminiscent of her final days within Danity Kane itself. There are two main reasons as to why she got the boot. One: because of her “raunchy” image, and two: the seemingly disrespectful way in which she spoke to Diddy. Furthermore, Diddy’s last words before she was ousted from the quintet were “I didn’t work these amount of years to have you disrespect me” to which you can faintly hear Aubrey say “I’m not meaning to disrespect you”, which may show that Aubrey herself, hasn’t found the tactful way of being the opinionated woman she proclaims to be, without causing offense or disrespect to others.

Meanwhile on The Celebrity Apprentice, it should be noted that a number of contestants have had their personal feelings get in the way of what should be about business. Aubrey herself has been named a bully by some, in reference to treatment of her team mate and former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, whose accent she frequently imitates, while also referring to the car the group has to ride around in the “cool van”. Although O’Day later cleared up her "cool van" comments, as well as the way she sees Dayana, some are sceptical about whether she should be representing the charity she does, which is GLSEN- The Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, which is hoping to eradicate bullying others solely on their sexual orientation. However, Hall is also guilty of making personal comments to his now team member O’Day, by hinting that she shouldn’t even be on the show, as he "googled her and a naked picture of her with a gut popped up", while allegedly referring to her as a w**** and a c*** to other cast members.

Aubrey O'Day

I’ve come to realise that a large part as to why Aubrey is treated the way she is, (as well as every person in the limelight to an extent), comes down to the fact that people define her by her image. If she didn't possess such a buxom figure and a heavily-made up face she would not receive the treatment she does, and people would actually take notice of the fact that she is a talented singer, songwriter and dancer. What I’m trying to say is that it is difficult for a lot of people to take O’Day seriously as an intelligent, creative and opinionated woman when she looks the way that she does. It is a fact that Aubrey, along with former team members comedian Lisa Lampanelli and 80s singer Debbie Gibson were often the three members of the team who did the heavy lifting so to speak, as far as creating and developing various tasks, to which everyone can vouch for.

Although The Celebrity Apprentice is a reality show, which by nature must include a certain amount of entertainment and drama, it is also a place were great celebrity minds are supposed to come together as a team to raise money for charity. Trump must have seen something in all 18 original members of the current 12^th season good enough to represent themselves articulately and professionally, as well as representing their respective charities.

Maybe it is just clever editing but who knows? The reality of reality television is that scenarios are chopped, changed, and edited to make things look one way or another. Close former team member Lampanelli called out the NBC network for its clever editing of the scenario, stating that “the stuff they cut out of the boardroom was disgusting,” and that it will “all come out.”

As for anyone that thinks that I am taking sides, I am not. Both Hall and O’Day neither 100% in the right or wrong for their actions, but IF Aubrey does decide to come back, there is no reason why she can’t be humble along with being the opinionated, creative, and intelligent woman she is.