Trump still fired up over Martha
Real estate mogul and reality TV personality Donald Trump has continued on his rampage against lifestyle guru Martha Stewart.
Trump, who launches a fifth season of his reality TV show The Apprentice next week, continued his attack against Stewart on Wednesday in interviews with celebrity TV shows Inside Edition and Extra.
At issue are comments Stewart made that appear in the current edition of Newsweek. Stewart's Apprentice spin-off received low ratings last fall and was not renewed for a second season.
In the Newsweek interview, Stewart attributes the failure to the decision to broadcast her version alongside Trump's (although the shows aired on different days). She also said that one of the original ideas was that she would "fire" Trump on the first episode of her show.
Trump fumed on Inside Edition that Stewart's allegations were "ridiculous." He also claimed that his show was the "number one show on television" and that NBC would never allow him to be fired.
On Extra, Trump added that Stewart owes him an apology but that he didn't expect one.
When it debuted in 2004, The Apprentice was a surprise hit. However, ratings have dropped significantly for later instalments, with some TV critics saying that the bombastic Trump appeared bored. Trump has previously blamed Stewart's low-rated spin-off for his own show's decline.
Stewart addressed the feud — albeit briefly — at the start of her syndicated daytime show Martha on Wednesday.
"Before we get to my first guest, I want to address what's happening with Donald Trump," she said. "I am disappointed, I am hurt and I am really upset at my longtime friend. That's really all I want to say. Enough about it."
On Tuesday, the two pop culture icons engaged in a back-and-forth battle through the media, including a venomous published letter from Trump. In it he attacked Stewart's Apprentice performance and that of her daughter, Alexis, as well as Stewart's Emmy-nominated daytime TV show. He also made reference to her criminal record.
In 2004, Stewart was convicted of lying about a stock sale and subsequently served jail time.