The Associated Press published a damning report on Monday, documenting Donald Trump’s history of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior on the set of his NBC reality show “The Apprentice.”
Former cast and crew members recalled Trump’s comments about women’s appearance, including asking contestants to dress more provocatively and openly discussing whom he’d have sex with.
The blockbuster report continues a narrative that has plagued the Republican presidential nominee throughout his campaign. The topic came up at last week’s debate, where his opponent Hillary Clinton criticized Trump for his previous comments regarding women.
“This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers,” Clinton said, revealing that Trump had once shamed former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, whom he previously referred to as “Miss Piggy” and “Miss Housekeeping.”
Here are the five biggest takeaways from the AP story:
Trump repeatedly objectified women, openly discussing wanting to have sex with some of them
While filming “The Apprentice,” dozens of the show’s former cast and crew members said Trump would make comments about women’s appearances and speculate what it would be like to have sex with them.
“We were in the boardroom one time figuring out who to blame for the task, and he just stopped in the middle and pointed to someone and said, ‘You’d f— her, wouldn’t you? I’d f— her. C’mon, wouldn’t you?’” one unidentified former crew member said. “Everyone is trying to make him stop talking, and the woman is shrinking in her seat.”
He took particular interest in one female camera operator whom he compared to his daughter
Trump gave special attention to one female crew member whom he compared to his daughter Ivanka. He’d sometimes stop production to compliment her appearance.
“He said something like she was cute and she had a nice ass, and it was brought to my attention by someone else that he had a crush on her,” said former producer Katherine Walker. “We all knew, so that’s uncomfortable in and of itself. I remember it being too much, that he made it obvious.”
Rebecca Arndt, a camera assistant who worked on the show, added: “I remember him comparing Ivanka to her and saying that only Ivanka was prettier.”
The woman declined to be interviewed by the AP, but her husband said she “doesn’t have a problem with Donald Trump.”
Not everyone remembers experiencing sexual harassment
The AP spoke to a total of 21 former cast and crew members, including some who requested not to be identified due to non-disclosure agreements. While some spoke on-the-record about Trump’s inappropriate behavior, others recalled their time on the NBC show differently.
“He was extremely supportive. You could tell there was so much respect there on all sides, especially with the female athletes,” said U.S. softball star Jennie Finch, who competed on “The Celebrity Apprentice.”
“Obviously, he was complimentary, but never in an inappropriate way,” she said.
Most of the people interviewed are not openly supporting Trump
“Most offered no opinion on the November election in the course of their interviews, but the majority of those who did said only that they were not supporting Trump,” wrote the Associated press.
Season 4 winner Randal Pinkett has previously spoken out against Trump, saying the candidate “has appealed to the lowest
The Trump campaign denies the report
Donald Trump’s campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks denied the report in a statement to the AP.
“These outlandish, unsubstantiated, and totally false claims fabricated by publicity hungry, opportunistic, disgruntled former employees, have no merit whatsoever,” she said. “‘The Apprentice’ was one of the most successful prime-time television shows of all time and employed hundreds of people over many years, many of whom support Mr. Trump’s candidacy.”