It’s clear that “Celebrity Apprentice” rivals NeNe Leakes and Star Jones are incapable being anything but vicious toward each other. So it came as no surprise when, during the live finale of the Donald Trump-helmed show on May 21, the two battled one last time.
For the finale, Trump brought back a number of the fired contestants to witness the crowing of the winner. And while catching up with the former contestants, Trump asked Leakes if Star bothered her during the season.
“Oh, she bothered me a lot,” said Leakes, adding that she doesn’t hold any grudges toward Jones. “I’m absolutely OK. I don’t hold grudges. That’s just not who I am. I was very honest in the things that I said and I stand by them.”
Jones, however explained that she was disappointed in Leakes, accusing her of purposely attacking the black women on the show.
“Let me just say that I was a little disheartened as I watched the episodes unfold throughout the season, to see that NeNe used this amazing platform to attack every single black woman on the show,” said Jones.
Leakes immediately fired back, cutting Jones off as she spoke.
“Oh, let’s not go there … because it’s not about a racial thing. And you used this platform to be very backstabbing and very manipulative and very conniving. That’s what you did,” said Leakes, causing an uproar of laughter from the audience and former contestants.
Jones, intent on finishing her statement, explained that, “As a professional woman, I was embarrassed, as were so many professional women around the country.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump then asked LaToya Jackson what she thought of the two rivals, with Jackson explaining that, despite Leakes’ harsh criticism of her during the season, that she liked Leakes as opposed to Jones.
“The fact is, is that I truly believed and I knew that Star was using NeNe as her mouthpiece. Star was really manipulating everything that as going on … NeNe didn’t realize that she was using her as a mouthpiece and then when I showed her and she says, ‘You know what? You’re right,’ she caught onto it,” said Jackson. “But I must say this, NeNe, deep down inside when I got to know her, she has a really good heart. She really does. And I forgave her for what she said.”
Despite the unending drama between Leakes and Jones, the night ended on a good note when John Rich was crowned the winner, besting competitor Marlee Matlin and winning the $250,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
What do you think of Leakes’ and Jones’ final “Celebrity Apprentice” battle?
–nicholas robinson
