Celebrity Apprentice: What We Learned About Meat Loaf From The Show

It’s been 11 years since Meat Loaf appeared on Celebrity Apprentice, and it’s time to talk about the late and great singer’s legacy from the show. Marvin Lee Aday (better known to the world as Meat Loaf) is best remembered for his theatrical albums, including the certified 14-times platinum Bat Out Of Hell and its certified 5-times platinum sequel, Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell. He also left his mark on reality TV after an unforgettable run on the show. Over the course of his career, he made more than 50 film and television appearances. Fans of former President Donald Trump’s reality game show will always hold a special place in their hearts for Meat Loaf due to his time on the series.

Meat Loaf was a player in the Celebrity Apprentice season 4, which was season 11 of The Apprentice franchise. It ran from March 6 to May 22 of 2011. He had an impressive run on the season, making it all the way to the final four contestants. However, he was eventually fired (along with friend and teammate, rapper Lil Jon) in the penultimate episode. Although he was eliminated, he was brought back for the season finale, as a member of deaf actress and show finalist Marlee Matlin’s team. He was one of only four candidates to be featured in all 12 episodes, giving fans a chance to see a different side of the larger-than-life power singer.

During his run on the charity-funding Celebrity Apprentice show, Meat played for The Painted Turtle, a summer camp for children with life-threatening illnesses or chronic illnesses such as spina bifida, hemophilia, and muscular dystrophy. The camp provides the children with the chance to enjoy summer camp, which their illnesses would otherwise prevent them from being able to do. The program is free for campers and their families and includes activities such as horseback riding, a ropes course, archery, fishing, and boating. They also offer in-hospital camp programs that bring the camp experience to children who are unable to leave the hospital. It was a charity very dear to the rock star’s heart, as he would express several times throughout the show. He raised over $92,000 for the charity during his tenure, not including proceeds from his collaborations with teammates, which continued to raise money after the profitable Trump-helmed Celebrity Apprentice season aired.

He Owned His Mistakes

When people remember Meat Loaf’s stint on Celebrity Apprentice, they almost always recall his now-infamous tirade against teammate Gary Busey, whom Meat falsely accused of stealing his paint supplies during a task. The larger-than-life performer was always forthcoming about living with anger management issues, but it’s what happened after the blow-up that truly showed what kind of man Meat was. He pulled a bewildered Gary Busey aside, looked him in the eye, and said, “I’m so embarrassed by it, and I’m so upset by it. I truly am very sorry.” He didn’t minimize his actions or make excuses for his outlandish behavior. He owned it and apologized, and even cried. Meat Loaf did a lot of crying while on the emotionally charged season of controversial Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice!

He Had A Soft Spot For Kids

Another tear-filled Meat Loaf moment happened when he was project manager for a live comedy event. As his new team was selling tickets for their show, he became worried that the team might lose the challenge. If they did, all the money that they were raising for The Painted Turtle would go to the other project manager’s charity. The camera captured Meat in tears, muttering, “I can’t gamble the money for the kids. It’s killing me, it’s absolutely destroying me.” In the boardroom, Meat Loaf tearfully expressed his fears of losing the money for his beloved charity. His friend and former teammate, the country legend and reality star John Rich, stepped up and reassured Meat Loaf that if Meat’s team lost, John would personally donate an equivalent amount of money to The Painted Turtle. The generous gesture made Meat Loaf sob even harder. However, it all turned out to be in vain, because Meat’s team did win, awarding $82,500 to The Painted Turtle. Of course, this made Meat Loaf cry again!

He Always Gave 100 Percent

There were plenty of other unforgettable Meat Loaf moments from that star-studded season that didn’t require Kleenex. When project manager Gary Busey assigned Meat the task of cooking the food for the team’s Omaha Steak cooking demonstration, he stepped up to the job, despite having weak culinary skills. He absolutely wowed the execs as an entertaining host. Fans also loved seeing the 70s crooner trade his signature red handkerchief for a sword when he dressed as a pirate to welcome the executives from Australian Gold sunscreen to project manager Mark McGrath’s display. Viewers also enjoyed getting to see the softer side of the rock-n-roller as he read his team’s story about Little Jon, a boy who was an outcast at school, to an audience of preschoolers

He Had Appreciation For Musicians Across The Spectrum

Arguably one of the coolest moments in Celebrity Apprentice history took place during Meat Loaf’s term, when he and fellow musician contestants John Rich, Lil Jon, and Mark McGrath teamed up to record “Backbone” (later renamed “Stand In The Storm”), a single benefiting each of the charities the members played for while on the show. The charities were The Painted Turtle, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The United Methodist Children’s Home of North Georgia Conference, and Save The Music Foundation. The song was also released on Meat Loaf’s 2011 album, Hell In A Handbasket. Meat remained close friends with the three artists after Celebrity Apprentice, often collaborating with them on other projects.

His Friends & Family Are Devastated

Of his passing, former castmate and friend Mark McGrath tweeted, “Devastated to hear of the passing of my good friend Meatloaf. He was such a massive talent with a heart just as big…Rest Easy My Friend.” John Rich posted a series of tributes including, “So sad to find out this morning my good friend #Meatloaf has passed. Meat had a huge heart for his fellow man, and was one of the most talented humans God ever created. A true force of nature and one of a kind. I am blessed to have had a close friendship with him. #MeatLoafRIP.” See Mark’s tweet below:

The world lost one of the greats on January 20. With a career spanning decades, there can be no arguing that Meat Loaf’s bombastic, operatic songs were an integral part of his fans’ lives, and will continue to live on for generations to come. However, it was his brief venture into reality TV via the famed Celebrity Apprentice that allowed the world to see the man underneath the grandiose stage presence. Thank you Celebrity Apprentice for providing that window. Rest in Peace Meat Loaf.

Source: Mark McGrath/Twitter

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