Donald Trump has claimed that he turned down several stars for the latest season of The Celebrity Apprentice.
The NBC reality series has announced its largest Celebrity Apprentice cast ever at 18 celebrities, including George Takei, Arsenio Hall, Victoria Gotti and Lisa Lampanelli.
Trump touted the star-studded new cast as proof that The Celebrity Apprentice has grown into one of the most popular reality shows on television.
"If you go back to the first Apprentice, a lot of celebrities didn't want to be on it," the mogul said, according to TV Guide. "It was very hard because people didn't want to be fired."
Trump added of the show's growing popularity: "This time around, it's become very easy to cast. We have had to turn down 25 people. Now that they see the success, and they get it."
Radio host Adam Carolla, reality star Teresa Giudice, Twisted Sister's Dee Snider, Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day and ten others will compete to be crowned Trump's next Apprentice.
The Celebrity Apprentice returns Sunday, February 12 at 9pm ET/PT on NBC.
