Lottie Lion apologises for 'offending' fellow Apprentice candidate Lubna Farhan after racism row

The 20-year-old librarian has been accused of being racist after a comment on a WhatsApp group
BBC
Isobel Frodsham12 December 2019
The Weekender

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Lottie Lion has apologised after being accused of using racist language about fellow The Apprentice candidate Lubna Farhan in a WhatsApp message.

The librarian, 20, has faced a backlash after calling the finance manager, 33, 'Gandhi' during a conversation with the other candidates.

In a WhatsApp group message published by Farhan, it appears to the two were arguing before Lion used the word.

Lion - who has denied being racist - has now apologised for offending Farhan, adding the message was "not in any way malicious or intended to be racist."

@Lubna58404057

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lion said: "I do say that if I did offend her in any way I am so sorry because I never mean to offend anybody. If she did interpret that in a way that upset her I send her my deepest apologies."

This is the second time Lion given an interview about the controversy.

Lubna Farhan during her time on the Apprentice
BBC

When she spoke to another tabloid newspaper last week, Farhan responded on Twitter: "Doubt she would have used 'Gandhi' if I was White... I am trying to move on now but when I see fake news about this it saddens me and I feel compelled to speak up for myself. I just want to focus on my kids, home and myself now."

Since the row erupted, Lion has not been been involved in promotion and press activity surrounding The Apprentice. She was not made available to speak to Standard Online following her firing on Wednesday night.

She did not appear on the spin-off show, The Apprentice: You're Fired! either.

The Apprentice 2019 Contestants - In pictures

1/19

A spokeswoman for the BBC previously addressed the ordeal by stating: "While this happened on a private messenger service once filming had concluded, the BBC nevertheless still expects the candidates to behave appropriately.

"The production company have looked into the issue and reported back, Lottie has been informed that her comments were wholly unacceptable and is in no doubt about our view on this.”

A separate statement from The Apprentice read: "The wellbeing of the candidates that take part in The Apprentice is of paramount importance, and we have a thorough and robust duty of care protocol in place which includes an experienced network of support for Candidates before, during and after filming - including making support available at a location convenient to them."

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