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Max Markson launches tacky “cocaine addict” attack on Didier Cohen

Max Markson's attack on Didier Cohen as "a self-confessed cocaine addict" was a new low in Celebrity Apprentice.

Celebrity agent Max Markson launched an extraordinary character attack on teammate Didier Cohen during Celebrity Apprentice tonight.

In the Boardroom on the Nine Reality show, Markson told boss Mark Bouris, “He’s a self-confessed cocaine addict. It’s in the paper.”

The accusations against the 26 year old male model follow an interview he gave to the Daily Telegraph in which he admitted his life descended into cocaine, partying and binge drinking when he was 17 and living in Los Angeles.

But at no stage was he quoted as saying he was a cocaine addict.

“I say every day, Australia saved my life. I’m so clean living now,” Cohen said at the time.

His nominated charity in the Nine series is Youth on the Streets.

It was a new low for the show which so far has seen spirited competition between celebrities playing up for the cameras.

Markson lost sight of the point that it’s just a television game, and one for charity at that…

But the incident also raises other questions.

While Cohen was fighting back tears, why did Mark Bouris neglect to dress down Markson for his character attack? Instead it was left to Coleman.

“That was not what was said in the paper and that was totally outrageous,” said Coleman.

The cocaine reference was also an unusual inclusion in a PG rated television show. Nine’s series The Block, which had also played at 7pm, was enormously popular with children.

But as the low blow played out, it wasn’t enough to save either Cohen or Markson, both of whom were cut in a double elimination. Project manager Coleman, who had failed to see his team win, was retained.

Markson later apologised for the remark, but not to Cohen’s face. By then the damage had been done and the cameras filmed it all as a disappointing storytelling device.

The show ought really consider a challenge that supports a charity which does work in drug-afflicted communities, but unfortunately most of the series is now in the can.

A bit like Max Markson’s behaviour.

37 Responses

  1. Max’s comment was absolutely loathsome and I was actually starting to like him, but that’s just torn it. Bouris should have torn him a new one for disrespecting Cohen and his boardroom in that manner.

  2. I found the whole boardroom exchange highly entertaining. Didier is an annoying upstart that needed to be put in his place. Jason Coleman was useless in the Fashion Parade challenge and should have been fired.

  3. Wow, that Markson’s a grub. It wasn’t just the fact he trawled up a sad episode in someone’s past, but used it as ammunition as to why that person may not have performed well. That’s just mean. I’m actually wondering if there’s a few roos missing from his top paddock …

  4. Max is petty and vile and we didn’t need to watch the show to know that!

    I want to know who added this to the end of Didier’s Wikipedia page:

    “In October 2011, Cohen appeared on Channel 9’s The Celebrity Apprentice Australia, in which Cohen said, “You’re a has been” to Warwick Capper who then responded, “You’re a never been.” Didier’s not-insubstantial jaw hit the floor.”

  5. Agree with you all. But let’s not forget, we are also playing right into this narcissist’s hands by talking about him so much! He is a promoter after all, best at doing that for himself as we can see. So, was it all a stunt? Does he have a book or a tell-all New Idea cover coming up?

  6. Markson shouldn’t have said it, but I don’t think it was really that bad. The situation isn’t ideal, but I don’t see how it’s a new low for the show or television in general.

  7. That should have been where Markson was fired … it was a “past” issue and he made it sound current. I think Donald Trump would have fired him immediately … Bouris’s lack of response shows him to be weak and full of s***!
    Makes the show look very fake and contrived also.

  8. He *was* a big drug user wasn’t he? I mean, it was no secret. He’d spoken about it himself in articles.

    Not nice of Max to bring it up, but really, not a hanging offence.

  9. I was annoyed the show didn’t properly explain what Max was talking about and that his low-blow was untrue. And I agree that Mark should have stepped in. What was he doing? How did he not even mention, when he fired Max, that his outburst had anything to do with it?

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