Apprentice star Lottie Lion’s family fear for her ‘sanity’ amid ongoing race row
APPRENTICE star Lottie Lion's family are said to fear for her "sanity" amid the ongoing race row.
The 19-year-old candidate is being investigated after her fellow contestants accused her of being racist in a group WhatsApp conversation.
Now her friends and family have expressed concern about the impact the allegations could have on Lottie's wellbeing, questioning whether Apprentice bosses have done enough to safeguard her.
report that Lottie's mother, Stephanie Blackmore, told a friend that she is worried about her daughter's sanity, adding: "It was awful. Charlotte was on the phone in floods of tears on several occasions.
"I was very worried about the effect of the attacks on her by other candidates.
"Since the show has aired it is a constant barrage of vile comment on social media. It is very debilitating for her."
Lottie's mother went on to reveal that she did not want Lottie to take part in the BBC One show, fearing that it wouldn't be a "positive experience" for her daughter.
The pal went on to blame Apprentice producers for editing the programme to "highlight Lottie's controversial side".
TV bosses were forced to launch an investigation into Lottie after the librarian allegedly told 33-year-old Lubna Farhan "shut up Gandhi" and "I'll f*** you up" in the WhatsApp conversation.
At least two contestants on the hit show are believed to have lodged complaints about Lottie's behaviour.
They claim that racism, bullying and homophobia were hushed up during filming, with one contestant complaining directly to the BBC and considering legal action.
Alongside the messages, it's claimed she also said that the area of Somerset she is from has a low crime rate "because not many black people live there".
She is said to have regularly referred to Ryan-Mark Parsons, 19, as "the short gay one" and Riyonn Farsad, 30, as "the tall gay one".
In addition, Lottie is accused of making derogatory comments about trans women, saying they would not be allowed into the "ladies club" she belongs to.
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It's also claimed she told fellow contestants she had never spoken to black person before going on the show.
A spokesperson for the BBC said of the scandal: "Her comments were wholly unacceptable".
This year's series of The Apprentice has also come under fire after viewers called out Lord Alan Sugar for five out of the six fired candidates so far being BAME [black and minority ethnic].
A spokesperson for the show previously denied the allegations, insisting that it is the candidates' performance that determines who gets fired.