'The Apprentice' reject Aoiffe Madden has reportedly suffered a vicious public backlash following her TV spat with Geraldine O'Callaghan.
The Galway girl was given her marching orders by Bill Cullen in Monday's show, but said that she was shocked at how she has been perceived by viewers.
Aoiffe and inner-city Dubliner Geraldine sparred on screen throughout the series and in Monday night's episode, Aoiffe left the show with a highly critical tirade about her rival.
But Aoiffe said the since 'The Apprentice' has been aired, she has received hateful text messages and has been shouted at in the street.
The Evening Hearld quotes her as saying: "I'm not that mean in real life. Yes, I was hurt. The first couple of weeks were very hard," she said. "I felt like I totally made the biggest mistake of my life."
"I can't get over the public's reaction. But when people were making all their harsh comments, I just grew a thick skin. I have had a couple of weirdos shouting at me. I work in Geraldine's neck of the woods."
Aoiffe (25) said that her friends and family have been hugely supportive of her, as has her employer, Clery's. But since filming has wrapped at the programme, she and Geraldine have not met.
"No, I haven't spoken to her," Aoiffe said. "I sent a message to apologise, I was quite upset the week that I took off her accent. I felt really bad.
"I sent her a text to apologise and I got a text back saying 'Apology accepted.' But there was no apology from her."
Aoiffe said of her behaviour on the show: "There was so much that the public didn't see, the way Geraldine treated me. She just hated me and I had to retaliate."
