Party planner David Tutera, who memorably clashed with eventual Celebrity Apprentice winner Joan Rivers on Sunday’s finale, told Barbara Walters on her Sirius XM Radio show Monday that Rivers is "a monster." Tutera was tasked to work with Rivers to plan a charity auction, but he told Walters he quit in part because "Joan and Melissa [Rivers] were completely incapable of giving me their insight on how the party should look. They had zero direction…. In 23 years of being in business, I have never left anyone, no matter how difficult they are to work with. Her behavior towards any human being was so unacceptable to me. [She's] such a monster I cannot begin to even explain."
Tutera, who also hosts the WE-TV show My Fair Wedding, says Celebrity Apprentice producers "manipulated" the situation by telling him ahead of time that he was not to give Rivers any ideas of his own. "When I got into the room and [Joan's team] gave me no ideas," he said, "I was left to sort of stand there and defend myself." When Walters asked Tutera whether he would work for Rivers again, Tutera replied, "Absolutely over my dead body."
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I can see that a client who can’t articulate their ideas would be frustrating, but how does it make her a monster? What’s he not telling? Something about this smells of PR stunt to me
She didn’t have ideas? MONSTER!
This guy is ridiculous. She was certainly telling him what she wanted and he wanted to give her red drapes and lounge chairs. Why was it so unacceptable for him to work with someone she preferred to give him the ideas? Has this guy ever planned anything before?
Sam, you don’t know who David Tutera is, do you?
I agree that Joan was out of line but he shouldn’t have left Annie hanging. They could have at least called her to let her know instead of ignoring her phone calls. Joan should not have won this last project or the show. Donald had her picked from the beginning.
Uh, yeah. David Tutera has done MANY planned events before. Just check out his website. I’ve also seen his show and my God…the man is an artist.
Uh, yeah. David Tutera has done MANY planned events before. Just check out his website. I’ve also seen his show and my God…the man is an artist.
Annie was robbed! Trumps relative is on the board of Joan’s charity and Joan has her own TV show coming on NBC.
My husband and I absolutely thought Joan caused the fiasco (the whole show). We can’t imagine what every one else is seeing including Trump to not call Joan’s hand. Look’s fishy to us.
David Tutera, you sound like an idiot. Joan was telling you what she wanted, but clearly you didn’t get it. I would have fired your ass.
Joan Rivers did not win last night, but the inability of Donald Trump to do the right thing, and take a postion that would have compromised his relationships with the NY Media and certain celebrity cicles, is what won Joan the title. Joan was totally unprofessional, rude, obnoxious and felt that she was entitled to act and say whatever she wanted. The fix was in, and just look how her daughter acted, when she got fired. The apple does not fall far from the tree. I will not be watching this show going forward.
Joan was so in the wrong and Trump just ignored the facts. I won’t watch the program again since its definitely fixed. After all Piers was on an NBC show, What affiliation does Joan have with GE/NBC? ANY GUESS?
Why would I comment. When I do you never post it, so it’s a waste of my time.
David Tutera is one of the best event planners in the world. That should tell it all that Joan Rivers was a complete idiot. Joan didn’t even know who David is. It wasn’t even fair that Annie got David’s employee and not him, it was rigged for Joan already. NBC also has a new show with Joan. The fact that she won 3 out of 5 is irrelevant. I think Annie scored 20, 20, 18, 18, 18 in the 5 categories while Joan scored 3, 3, 20, 20, 20. Annie’s total is still higher. If you notice when Trump’s daughter goes over the last 3 categories she flew threw them like she was disgusted to have to lie. Overall it was a terrible and disgusting way for Annie to lose. They could’ve made it look less obvious they set it up for Joan. I guarantee if you showed all the episodes to people who are objective Annie would’ve won easily.
No matter what the outcome was, clearly Annie was the winner by a long-shot – just as Pierce had said a few episodes ago – it’s all about how you play the game. Annie played the game from the 1st episode to the finale… . My husband and I were so frustrated watching week after week, Joan and Melissa acting out like spoiled children always wanting to get the last word…. And it was frustrating watching DT continue to let them (Joan & Melissa) over-talk everyone – yes including you MR TRUMP!! Annie won the most money, challenges – and hearts of America!! Joan got the sympathy vote because she is a “Sr Citizen”…….. DT what was the deal 2 for one… you had to hire the mother and daughter duo or it was a no-go??????
I’m shocked that Annie did not win. She was so much more skilled, classy and professional. Shame on the DT for selecting Joan the loser.Joan should have given the party planner ideas like Annie did – it was to be her creation. She is a checkbook party planner, pay for it and it happens.
It seems as if this Joan and daughter are simply abusive and unkind… and rather foul mouthed too.
Sorry – I could have done better – no, Corky from “Life Goes On” could have done better – no, a paralyzed lobotomized sloth would have done better than Mr. Tutera. Ms. Rivers gave fairly clear directions, and Mr. Tutera did not listen – full stop. Plus, cutting off Ms. Duke was so unprofessional, Mr. Tutera’s next job should be to decorate his own prison cell in Sing Sing.
I can’t believe Trump thinks Joan deserves the WIN! I won’t watch next years show. ANNIE SHOULD HAVE WON!
Annie clearly should have won! Fire Donald Trump and replace him with Simon Cowell who would have chosen the winner based on performance not favoritism!!! I won’t waste time watching that show again with Donald’s bias judging! It was a huge disappointment! If you can’t get an honest judge in there then perhaps change the show and let America vote!
Annie kept saying she wasn’t there to see what happened between Joan and David, but she sure didn’t think like that when she was calling everybody. She couldn’t wait to tell them about how Joan made the designer quit.
Watching Annie’s reaction go from raised eyebrows and smiles as she prepared to be crowned, and then disappear off her face when she was fired was hilarious!
The decorator is back peddling now after looking so unprofessional on the show. His lack of professionalism became evident when he ditched Annie. He didn’t seem enthusiastic about the job and on the phone said he couldn’t pull it together in the time allotted. Joan had plenty of ideas and so did her volunteers. They pulled a room together from scratch. If they could do it, why wasn’t David inspired?
It was clear that she was giving him ideas and he wanted to push white or red drapes and lounge chairs on her. She was right–that would have been horrible. He kept saying that it was too late and he couldn’t do anything. This guy may be an “artist” when he is given endless time and resources, but he clearly couldn’t work under pressure on a Friday night. Why is that Joan’s fault? Trump said that the guy was “overwhelmed.” It looks like he was panic stricken and took his marbles and went home and now he wants to blame Joan. And for everybody who won’t watch the show next year just because a poker player didn’t win, don’t watch it.
“the man is an artist”???? Really? David, stop posting here. You came off as a whiny little creep and I hope you lose business as a result of your flouncing. Ridiculous.
Sorry, David. The customer is always right. Quitting was unprofessional. Bad mouthing a former client is even worse. I would never hire you.
David Tutera, let me get this straight. You are posing like a highly paid professional. You have a hissy fit with Joan. You quit on Annie, amd do not even have the courtesy to tell her, so Annie Duke has to come TO YOUR OFFICE and track you down. Any potential customer would have to be an IDIOT to hire you.
Go look at the website for Joan’s charity “GodsLoveWeDeliver.org” and look at the Board of Directors; you’ll find Donald Trump’s sister-in-law, and in my opinion, one of the only reasons why Trump let Joan Rivers stomp all over him. What an embarrassment to Trump to let this foul-mouthed quitting loser cry-baby name-calling bratty mother/daughter pair scream and temper-tantrum their way to success. What a farce. I remember when the financial media used to take this show seriously. Today even little children recognize the bogus manner in which Trump tries to act like there’s some semblance of logic to his choice. There clearly is not. Annie won the most tasks, and raised the most money. Second place wasn’t even close. She was the clear winner. BUT … Trump’s sister-in-law isn’t sitting on the board of THAT charity.
Trump said it plainly. The event planner could not handle the task.
A professional is paid to provide a service. His main concern should be to please the customer. He failed all around.
I fell asleep for the last 15 minutes-supposedly the best part. It appears that Trump did not even give a reason for having Joan win.I had at least expected some strategy in the boardroom.Yes, sounds fishy-very!
OK drama boy, you get your 15 min. and maybe a few clients who want to say they used the guy who… But I would never hire a company that ditches on a client- very unprofessional.
I really think that it was a joke that Joan Rivers Won, she was awful and you can tell she won b/c of a friendship with Donald Trump. When I saw Joan Rivers fired David Tutera who is super talented and who i would have wanted to be the event planner for my wedding I was shocked. He is sooooo creative!!!! Joan Rivers and Melissa Rivers S-CK!