The Untold Story of STD Testing on “The Apprentice” Revealed

Behind the scenes of reality shows like “The Apprentice” and “The Bachelor,” there is a surprising aspect that viewers may not be aware of – STD testing. While it may seem expected for dating shows, it turns out that even on “The Apprentice,” contestants had to undergo STD testing. Ramin Setoodeh’s book, “Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass,” delves into this detail, revealing that it was the show’s producer, Mark Burnett, who was concerned about extracurricular activities on set.

According to Setoodeh’s book, Trump, known for being a germaphobe, wanted to ensure that he wouldn’t face any legal liability for anything that happened after filming. However, it was Burnett who took the precautionary measure of implementing STD testing for the contestants. One former contestant, Bowie Hogg from Season One, shared his experience, describing the process as painful. He explained that a funnel-like device was inserted into the penis and scraped before being removed, causing him extreme discomfort.

Despite the precautions taken, scandals still managed to occur on reality shows. For example, on Season 5 of “The Apprentice,” Donald Trump Jr. had an affair with Danity Kane star Aubrey O’Day while he was still married to Vanessa Trump. This highlights that even with STD testing in place, unexpected relationships and encounters can still arise.

Interestingly, it’s not just “The Apprentice” or dating shows like “The Bachelor” that require STD testing. Page Six reported in 2018 that stars on several Bravo reality shows also have to sign an “STD clause” to prevent them from suing the network if they contract an STD during filming. This demonstrates that STD tests are becoming a common practice in the world of reality television.

The topic of STDs has even come up in relation to Donald Trump outside of reality TV. During Stormy Daniels’ testimony in Trump’s hush money case, she revealed that he had asked her about STDs multiple times. This aligns with Trump’s previous comments on the subject. In an appearance on the Howard Stern show in 1997, Trump compared his efforts to avoid STDs to the Vietnam War, calling it his “personal Vietnam.” He expressed his belief that the world of STDs was dangerous, referring to vaginas as “landmines.”

Overall, STD testing has become a crucial aspect of reality shows, ensuring the safety and well-being of contestants. It also serves as a reminder that even in the scripted and controlled environment of television, unexpected relationships and scandals can still occur. Additionally, Trump’s personal views on STDs bring attention to the importance of sexual health awareness and precautions for everyone.