TCA Press Tour: ‘Life After’ Donald Trump and Star Jones
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Reality show villainess Omarosa ‘apologized’ to her enemies -- sort of. And the man formerly known as the husband of Star Jones claimed that the media have mischaracterized him -- calling him everything from ‘gay’ to ‘a freeloader’ to ‘a kept man.’
Omarosa and Al Reynolds appeared at the press tour today to promote TV One’s ‘Life After,’ which explores experiences of celebrities who have endured private or public turning points that have affected their images. Omarosa, who first came to prominence in the first season of ‘The Apprentice’ with Donald Trump and has subsequently played the ‘ice queen’ in several shows such as ‘The Surreal Life,’ said she wants to be recognized for her softer side as a daughter and a sensitive person.
However, the more prominent side of her came out when she said she was ‘sorry’ for calling her former ‘Surreal Life’ housemate Janice Dickenson ‘a crackhead’ with ‘a bad weave,’ and for calling TV and radio personality Wendy Williams ‘a man.’ ‘I mean that from my heart,’ she quipped. She added that being the ‘bad girl’ on reality shows was lucrative, saying she made as much as $75,000 from shooting shows such as ‘The Surreal Life.’
Reynolds, who did not wear his trademark glasses, said he has dealt with the high profile breakup of his marriage with Star Jones by becoming a professor at Florida Memorial College, teaching finance. He said he and Jones had been approached during their relationship about doing a reality show, but had declined because their courtship and wedding had been so public.
He did not address specifics of the breakup or other aspects of his image, but pronounced, ‘It’s time for my story to shine, and I’m proud to be doing it with TV One.’
-- Greg Braxton
