Keshia Knight Pulliam fired from 'Celebrity Apprentice' for not calling Bill Cosby

Keshia Knight Pulliam was fired from the first episode of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice just because she refused to call her former TV dad, Bill Cosby, to raise money for charity. The episode was oddly timed, coming after the mounting sexual abuse allegations faced by the Cosby Show star.

Pulliam played Rudy Huxtable on the Cosby Show and was asked to call up Cosby to raise money for a charity. The episode had the contestants compete to raise the most for charity by calling up other famous friends for help.

However, Pulliam made it clear that she was not comfortable with just calling Cosby out of the blue, notes People. Donald Trump still scolded her for not calling the comedian.

“I have not talked to Bill Cosby on the phone in I don't know how long,” Pulliam said. “So, for me to pick up the phone, having not talked to you for five years, except for when we run into each other for a Cosby event – I feel that's not my place to do.”

Trump was actually live tweeting the broadcast and was facing heat for grilling Pulliam. Trump defended his decision though and stressed that the episode was taped before dozens of women came forward with sexual assault allegations against Cosby.

This show was taped just before the terrible Bill Cosby revelations came to light.She still should have asked him for money-goes to charity.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2015

Pulliam appeared on the Today Show Monday morning and she defended Cosby, stressing that he has not been proven guilty.

“Ultimately, they're just that, allegations," Pulliam said. "You know, it's very much been played out in the court of public opinion. But we're still in America, where ultimately you're innocent until proven guilty. I wasn't there. That's just not the man I know. So I can't speak to it."

Trump also announced on his Twitter page that he will donate $25,000 to Pulliam’s charity.

image courtesy of Kristin Callahan/ACE/INFphoto.com