The Apprentice star Dr Asif Munaf has said he isn’t shaken by the call to have him struck off the medical register over ‘anti-Semitic remarks’.
The Wellness brand owner, who was fired on Thursday’s show, faced furious backlash after he made a series of ‘anti-Jewish’ online posts, including calling Zionism a ‘satanic cult’ in the aftermath of Hamas’ murderous October 7 attacks and calling Zionists ‘odiously ogre-like’.
In a series of Tweets on Friday, Dr Asif wrote: ‘They have tried to get me struck off by referring me to the General Medical Council.
‘They think this will shake me. It only strengthens me. Don’t they know that the exact amount of money I will make before I die was written before I was even conceived? I have absolute conviction in my Lords Decree.’
The candidate also said the show ‘isn’t the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life’ after he was dropped from the spin-off You’re Fired.
Apprentice star Dr Asif Munaf has said he isn’t shaken by the call to have him struck off the medical register over ‘anti-Semitic remarks’
The Wellness brand owner, who was fired on Thursday’s show, faced furious backlash after he made a series of ‘anti-Jewish’ online posts,
He wrote: ‘Unlike most other candidates, the show is just one small chapter in my life. It’s not my entire personality. Nor is it the biggest thing I’ve done in my life. This is why they are beholden to the broadcaster and I am free. Alhamdulillah for Islam.’
In another Tweet, Dr Asif added: ‘Staying silent is the epitome of cowardice.’
Corporation bosses edited the former NHS doctor out of this week’s episode of The Apprentice: You’re Fired! on BBC2 amid a backlash over the remarks he made online.
Dr Asif described Zionism as a ‘satanic cult’ in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attack.
He also wrote on social media that he was compiling a ‘list of sadistic doctors’ who were ‘supporting the Zionist genocide’ and described Zionists as ‘odiously ogre-like’, also labelling the ‘Zionist PR machine’ as ‘slimy’.
And speaking out, the contestant made his feelings clear in a series of tweets, warning it would only ignite a ‘bigger flame’.
He wrote on X: ‘They did me dirty. The lobby pressured the broadcaster and they relented. This will only ignite a bigger flame in my belly. We have Him’.
In a series of Tweets on Friday, Dr Asif wrote: ‘They have tried to get me struck off by referring me to the General Medical Council. ‘They think this will shake me. It only strengthens me;
Dr Asif- who now owns his own wellness brand – described Zionism as a ‘satanic cult’ in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attack
The contestant made his feelings clear in a series of tweets, warning it would only ignite a ‘bigger flame’
He added in a post a few minutes later: ‘They called for me to be cut out the broadcaster and suspended my the regulator.
‘Today me journey on the show ended. But my journey with Him is still ongoing.
‘Never sell your faith for fame. Always keep speaking the truth. Especially in the midst of genocide.’
The doctor went on to argue against ‘the Zionists’ saying that ever since his announcement on the show, they have tried to ‘demonise’ him.
The comments caused outrage across the Jewish community, with the Board of Deputies of British Jews complaining to Tim Davie, the BBC director-general and Samir Shah, its chairman, about having Dr Munaf on the show.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews also issued a statement, saying they believed the Jewish community were owed an apology from the BBC.
They wrote: ‘Following the Board of Deputies President’s urgent letter to the BBC Director-General Tim Davie and the BBC Chairman this morning, we have been notified that the BBC has significantly edited all content relating to BBC 2’s You’re Fired concerning Asif Munaf.
‘We hope that the BBC will apologise publicly to the Jewish community for their handling of this sorry situation and send the people responsible for antisemitism awareness training.’
Earlier this week, the BBC came under fire for broadcasting episodes of The Apprentice starring Dr Asif.
Executives refused to take the programme off-air after the former NHS doctor continued to make ‘grotesquely anti-Semitic’ remarks after a BBC-organised diversity and inclusion training course.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews’ statement after Dr Munaf was edited from the show
Dr Asif was sent on an equalities training course after the BBC was alerted to his tweets once filming had concluded
Dr Asif was sent on an equalities training course after the BBC was alerted to his tweets once filming had concluded. The BBC said the posts had been there before filming, he would not have been included in the show.
At the time a spokesman for The Apprentice said: ‘After filming had taken place, we were made aware of concerns over social media posts that Asif had made after he had left the process.
‘As soon as we were alerted, we took immediate action and spoke to Asif in detail on this. Asif took part in specialised training to understand why his posts may cause offence.’
Dr Asif insisted ‘it was not my intention to offend anyone’.
But since then he has continued to make controversial remarks about the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Two weeks ago he wrote that the ‘Zionist mask is falling’ and accused Israel of weaponizing the Holocaust to ‘push another fascist ideology’.
On Monday, Danny Cohen – former director of BBC Television – claimed the training ‘clearly did not work’ citing further offensive remarks by Dr Munaf.
Writing in The Telegraph Mr Cohen said: ‘The BBC’s inaction sends a message.
‘You can be racist towards Jews and there are no consequences. You can enjoy fame on the BBC even if you are the kind of person whose views painfully remind Jewish viewers of Nazi propaganda.
‘Once again, the Jewish community has been failed by the BBC.’
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
