CBS and NBC Reject Advertising for 'The Apprentice'

In a surprising turn of events, CBS and ABC have chosen not to air promotional spots for *The Apprentice*, a biopic chronicling the early days of Donald Trump, during the ongoing campaign debates. This decision comes as a significant blow to Briarcliff Entertainment, the film's distributor, which expressed frustration over the networks' reluctance to associate their content with political discussions.

Briarcliff Entertainment's CEO, Tom Ortenberg, voiced his discontent, stating, “The timidity and cowardice of those in the corridors of power in Hollywood never ceases to amaze. Despite all the obstacles thrown in our way, we are thrilled to be able to bring *The Apprentice* to theatres — and only theatres — next Friday, October 11.”

On the evening of the vice presidential debate featuring Tim Walz and J.D. Vance, CBS reportedly opted against airing the movie's ads as they believed it would pose ethical complications, especially linking a paid advertisement featuring a political figure with their news broadcasts. However, CBS is open to running promotional spots at other times during the day.

ABC has also verified its refusal to air ads for the film during the last presidential debate, citing similar concerns regarding the separation of news content and advertising linked to political figures.

*The Apprentice* stars Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump along with Jeremy Strong, who portrays his mentor, Roy Cohn, and Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump. The film has been controversial since its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, particularly because it includes a sensitive scene depicting Trump allegedly assaulting Ivana.

Earlier this year, Trump's camp reacted with a cease-and-desist letter after the film's Cannes premiere, threatening legal action against the filmmakers. So far, these threats have not materialized into any formal legal challenges.

As this story develops, we will keep you updated with responses from the networks and further insights into the controversy surrounding *The Apprentice*. Stay tuned; what happens next could impact the film's release and ongoing discussions in the political arena.