Dismissed “Apprentice” Contestant Sues Trump, Claiming Age Discrimination

By Nathan Abbott

Published on January 11, 2007

Richard J. Hewett, a technology manager for a commercial real estate company in Hampstead, New Hampshire, is suing Donald Trump and the producers of his television show, “The Apprentice.” Hewett was rejected from the show in July 2005 at the age of 49, and claims that the show is biased against older contestants.

“The Apprentice” creates a competitive atmosphere between business professionals and entrepreneurs, with contestants being dismissed each week by the show’s “you’re fired” catchphrase, until the winner is ultimately “hired” into one of Mr. Trump’s organizations. In the suit, Hewett claims that only two finalists out of six seasons have been over the age of 40, and that people watching will get the impression that one has to be young in order to succeed in a big organization.

A spokesman for the show claimed that a tiny percentage of applicants had been over 40, and that if older candidates applied and the show’s screeners liked them, they would be cast to the show. The suit names Trump, the Trump Organization Inc., Trump Productions, the show’s producer and his production company, as well as three other affiliated companies. NBC is not named as a defendant.

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