“Gut-Wrenching, Soul Destroying”: The Veronicas Have Torn Into ‘Celeb Apprentice’ Producers
"I hope you pay your editors well for the souls they sell."
The Veronicas have once again slammed the producers of Nine’s Celebrity Apprentice for allegedly portraying them in a highly negative light on the show.
It’s the third time now the popstar duo — Jess and Lisa Origliasso — have spoken out about their depiction in the series. Early last week, after a brief on-air argument was broadcast the night before, they told fans to chill and not believe everything they see — however just a few days later their goodwill towards the show had vanished, and they lambasted the show for selectively editing them.
“Celeb Apprentice, why are you not airing any of our wins and strategy for each task, only using the scripted drama you GAVE us as the only airtime/promo?” The duo wrote last week.“Where’s all the footage where we pull through for our team /and for our charity? Why is all of that being edited out?”
Last night, following an episode that featured an on-air spat between the duo and a few cast members including fashion designer Camilla Franks and Married at First Sight alumnus Martha Kalifatidis, the Veronicas released a statement directed at the “crew and production” of the series.
“This open letter is not for the public, the public is going to form an opinion based off what you put in front of them,” they wrote. “This is for the crew and production involved in the show that knows the truth.”
“You signed us up for your show under the guise of charity and heart. Our genuine intentions and passion reduced to an edit — portraying us strong-arming other team members and outwardly using our mother’s condition for sympathy and manipulative tactics is disgusting.”
They go on to claim that the producers of the show “constantly asked” them to discuss their mother’s illness and their chosen charity — The Brain Foundation — throughout that particular episode, a move which appeared to cause friction between the cast. “You turn around and weaponised our words and our mummy’s name — turning them into a knife used to stab us in the heart. Shame on you.”
Read their full statement below.
They elaborated on Twitter, accusing the show of portraying them as emotionally manipulating and “blackmailing people for sympathy”.
“I hope you pay your editors well for the souls they sell,” they finished.
The fact they have edited this to seem like emotional manipulation and blackmailing people for sympathy is awful. Being gaslit on an edit over something so close to our hearts is truly beyond comprehension. We are grateful there was money made for all the charities involved.
— THE VERONICAS (@TheVeronicas) June 1, 2021
.@CelebApprentice the fact you edited out all the facts, so we become entitled brats – expecting favours and using our mums condition for benefit is truly the lowest you could have gone.
I hope you pay your editors well for the souls they sell.— THE VERONICAS (@TheVeronicas) June 1, 2021
Celebrity Apprentice hasn’t yet commented, but Franks addressed the blow-up briefly on Instagram: “Deepest sympathy and compassion for @theveronicasmusic who were fighting for their Mama Bear and wearing their heart on their sleeves,” the designer wrote.
Celebrity Apprentice continues this Sunday on Nine.