‘The Apprentice’ Contestants Criticized After Making Orange Gin That ‘Celebrates Colonialism’
An orange-colored gin becomes the center of controversy following a couple of poor branding choices made by contestants on “The Apprentice.” (Photo: The Apprentice)
During a tumultuous episode of BBC’s reality TV show “The Apprentice,” a few contestants found themselves embroiled in a branding debacle surrounding a newly concocted alcoholic beverage, resulting in social media backlash. The task at hand centered on the gin market, a realm that has surged in popularity in the United Kingdom in recent years.
Contestants Frances, Trishna and their team’s leader, Grainne, grappled with the challenge of christening the libation they created together, ultimately settling on the label “Colony Gin.” Their reasoning behind the name apparently ties back to a pivotal moment during the height of the British Empire, when exotic flavors and spices from overseas colonies were being celebrated. However, this historical allusion backfired, as a multitude of viewers interpreted the choice as a nod to the dark chapters of slavery and racism.
Orange, racist gin? Might not have got many orders but could potentially win a presidential election… #TheApprentice
— Sam Fuller (@Sam_Fuller) December 8, 2016
Adding fuel to the fire, an error in labeling emerged as Frances inadvertently placed Africa on the bottle instead of India, offering a perplexing justification that it represented “East Asia… Africa at the back with India in the center.” These glaring mishaps did not escape the discerning eye of the show’s host, Alan Sugar, who was quick to point them out.
The team’s branding mistakes were evidently so unfortunate that the official X account for “The Apprentice” also weighed in on the gin.
A gin infused with artificial orange colouring that celebrates colonialism and features an incorrect map.
Only on #theapprentice. pic.twitter.com/eKc6CaTmrV— The Apprentice (@bbcapprentice) December 8, 2016
In the end, the moniker “Colony Gin” and the associated missteps cast a shadow over the episode, with Trishna, in particular, bearing the brunt of criticism for her adverse demeanor and a lackluster performance that saw her team pocket £5,280 (about $6,401), a stark contrast to their rival’s £71,400 ($86,558) triumph.
This is not the first time gin has stirred up a little controversy, as just last year former Brexit party leader Nigel Farage released three gins described as a “taste of Brexit.” Social media users were quick to voice their distaste for the trio of gins that, despite being lauded as “patriotic” and “quintessentially British,” were not even of the London dry variety.
Read next:
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