A former producer on Donald Trump's reality series The Apprentice has described the show as a "scam" designed to fool viewers into thinking its star was a successful businessman.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Emmy-winning reality producer Bill Pruitt said that Trump's real estate empire was crumbling when he was cast as the tough-talking boardroom boss on the business-themed reality show.
"The Apprentice was a scam put forth to the public in exchange for ratings. We were 'entertaining', and the story about Donald Trump and his stature fell into some bizarre public record as 'truth'," Pruitt told the mag.
"We are masterful storytellers and we did our job well. What's shocking to me is how quickly and decisively the world bought it. Did we think this clown, this buffoon with the funny hair, would ever become a world leader? Not once. Ever."
Pruitt, who has also worked on The Amazing Race, said that the makers of The Apprentice and other media outlets that propagated the image of Trump as a successful businessman must be held accountable.
