After Donald Trump told her "You're fired," The Apprentice 2 contestant Jennifer Crisafulli got the boot again from her real-life Manhattan employer, Prudential Douglas Elliman, she confirmed to PEOPLE.
The firm reportedly let go the 32-year-old real-estate agent over remarks she made on the TV reality program last week. Crisafulli, in explaining to teammates why they lost their task of opening a restaurant, had said: "It was those two old Jewish fat ladies. ... They were like the pinnacle of the New York jaded, old bags."
The statement, in reaction to poor reviews from patrons, was perceived in some quarters as being anti-Semitic. Those quarters apparently included those of her real-life employer.
"We do not intend to have an individual in our organization who subscribes to this point of view," Steven James, Elliman's senior vice president and executive director of sales, told Crisafulli's hometown paper, the Albany, N.Y., Times Union. "They are not wanted. They are not needed."
For legal reasons, says the paper, James did not use Trump's favorite word, "fired," in regard to Crisafulli's employment status.
Crisafulli, who noted that "my family's half Jewish; I don't have a prejudiced bone," told PEOPLE she was "surprised and deeply saddened" about getting fired.
Douglas Elliman bosses reportedly sent a company-wide email, telling coworkers that it "does not share the views of Jennifer Crisafulli nor condone her behavior on The Apprentice.
"We understand that many of you are upset by her comments, as are we, so please know that we are dealing with the situation in a timely fashion and in a way that we believe will meet with your satisfaction."
According to NBC, the situation marked the first instance that anyone has lost a job over an appearance on the show.
Trump called Crisafulli's choice of words "unfortunate." "It's too bad," he told PEOPLE. "I feel badly for her. But it's something she should not have said or even thought."
Your Reaction
