Lisa Rinna Reveals She Was Star Jones’ First ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ Target; Says She Was Shocked By Lack Of ‘Girl Power’ Unity

Lisa Rinna became the second celebrity fired from NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” following her team’s second task loss, but the former “Days of Our Lives” actress says that while working with the show’s women was disappointing, their cattiness left her smelling like a rose.

“I have to thank those girls because they made me look really good. You made me look real good girls!” Lisa, who was guest co-hosting Access Hollywood Live on Wednesday, told host Kit Hoover of her “Apprentice” catfights with Star Jones and Dionne Warwick. “We had moments where we got along. We had a good time… We’re raising money for charity. Women get like that, you know?”

Placed with a team of women that also included La Toya Jackson, Marlee Matlin, Niki Taylor, NeNe Leakes and Hope Dworaczyk, Lisa was expecting to gain a group of girlfriends and band together to beat the show’s competing male team – but the group instead attacked each other from within.

“When I heard we were all on the girls’ team I was like, ‘Girl power! We are going to have so much fun!’” she told Kit of her initial excitement. “[I’m a] little naïve girl from Medford, Oregon. Are you kidding me? I had no clue!”

The perceived animosity toward Lisa started to make more sense after she received a telling call from her former teammate, La Toya Jackson, revealing she was one of Star Jones’ targets before filming on the reality hit even began.

“I got a little call from La Toya and she said, ‘Lisa, I just want to tell you you did such a great job and I love you so much and I’m really sorry that I didn’t stand up for you,’” Lisa told Kit, in her best La Toya voice, recounting more of the conversation. “‘Star had everybody go out to dinner [prior to shooting] and I was sitting at another table – I didn’t want to go — and I do know she told everybody she hated you and she wanted you off the show before it even started.’

“And that was my phone call,” Lisa continued, laughing. “I was like, ‘Wow. Who knew!’ I had no idea! I wasn’t asked to go to dinner!”

Despite her early boardroom dismissal, the overall experience was positive for Lisa.

“I learned a lot, man. I learned that I am a more capable of things than I even realize I’m capable of. I really am,” Lisa told Kit. ‘And I had a great time, I really did…. It’s all good.”

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