The Apprentice’s Karren Brady praised for shutting down ‘sexist’ remark

Lord Sugar’s aide made things very awkward for Siobhan Smith
Bemused: Karren Brady shut down a candidate's sexist remark during an episode of The Apprentice
BBC

Karren Brady has been praised by The Apprentice viewers for shutting down a candidate’s ‘sexist’ remark during the first episode of the new series.

Fans of the show celebrated as Brady gave Siobhan Smith short shrift when she appeared to suggest that members of the team should be “attractive” in order to sell to men.

One Twitter user wrote: “Yes Karen, drag Siobhan [sic],” while another posted: “Karen Brady is not here for your anti-feminist b******* Siobhan [sic].”

Others found the encounter difficult to watch, with one viewer commenting: “’What do you mean by attractive?’ grills Karen to a squirming Siobhan. 15 mins in and #TheApprentice is already super awkward [sic].”

Shut down: Things got a bit awkward for candidate Siobhan Smith 
BBC/Jim Marks

The girls’ team Graphene were discussing their sales location of Canary Wharf, when Smith pitched in with some thoughts on the most appropriate salespeople to send to the location.

She told the group: “Our customers in Canary Wharf are going to be male-dominated, so that’s something to take into consideration when you choose who you want to be selling the burgers. So it’s got to be attractive to him as well to want to buy it."

Brady jumped in to quiz her: “What do you mean about attractive?”

Things got a bit awkward in the meeting room as Siobhan fumbled over her explanation.

The Apprentice 2017 Contestants - In pictures

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“We have to think… you know…they have to be good at selling…and they also have to be good…because they have to be good to sell to men. If you see what I’m saying?” she hesitated.

A baffled Brady hit back: “No I don’t see what you’re saying. What are you saying?”

Things got even more cringe-worthy as Siobhan continued to try and explain away her comment.

“I’m just saying if you’re shy at dealing with men on a day-to-day basis well it’s going to be a problem.”

Making a spectacle: viewers enjoyed the array of eyewear on show
BBC

At which point Karren shut her down completely saying: “None of you strike me as shy”.

The array of spectacles on show in the first episode of the new series also got fans talking as no less than five candidates were seen sporting unusual eyewear.

Michaela Wain, Charles Burns and Elizabeth McKenna’s glasses caught viewer’s attention in particular, who compared them to Eve from On the Buses, Harry Potter and Melania Trump in disguise to name a few.

One user asked: “What is with the ridiculous glasses??!!”, while another wondered if Timmy Mallett had wandered onto set, tweeting: “Looking at some of the glasses on the apprentice Timmy Mallett could be on this series!”

The Apprentice continues Mondays at 9pm on BBC One.

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