BBC Apprentice Contestant Cut From New Series Over Anti-Zionist Social Media Posts
Munaf appears on Dragon’s Den. (Screengrab YouTube)
The BBC has axed scenes featuring The Apprentice contestant Dr Asif Munaf from the show’s companion series You’re Fired after a resurgence of controversy over his social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war.
In the posts, previously reported on and made on X since Israel began it’s military campaign against Hamas in October, Munaf described Zionists as “a godless, satanic cult” and expressed hopes that his children would be strong enough to resist the “Zionist antichrist.”
In January, a spokesperson for The Apprentice emphasised the show’s commitment to an inclusive environment, stating that it has taken immediate action upon learning of the posts. Munaf, a former NHS doctor, was made to undergo “specialist training” to understand the offensive nature of his posts, following discussions with the BBC’s HR, diversity and inclusion teams.
At the time, Munaf apologised “for any offence caused by my online content/social media.” He said: “It was not my intention to offend anyone, and I am of course open to all views. The beliefs I hold and have shared are based on the values that I was brought up with.”
However, Deadline reported Thursday that Jewish staff members were “stunned” that the broadcaster had decided to include Munaf in You’re Fired, set to premiere Thursday, given his continued posts on social media about the war and Israel.
As a result, despite Munaf’s participation in the main series, his appearance in scenes on You’re Fired have now been cut from the show, according to The Independent.
A BBC source told The Independent: “We can confirm that the individual concerned will not feature as a guest on any additional upcoming BBC content relating to The Apprentice.”
Appearing to respond to the news, Munaf posted on X:
He retweeted other posts which protested that “much of the reporting [on the war] falsely conflates anti Israeli rhetoric with antisemitism” as part of “a deliberate part of the overall strategy to cover up Israeli crimes [in Gaza].”
