Real estate mogul-turned-reality TV star Donald Trump turned down the opportunity to include Lindsay Lohan as a contestant on the new Celebrity Apprentice, because it's "not the right time" for the troubled actress.
Lindsay has to straighten herself out first... It could happen in the future, but right now we need to see Lindsay get straightened out
Lohan has spent the past year in and out of rehab and recently completed a court-ordered stay at the Betty Ford Clinic in California to battle her addiction issues.
The Mean Girls star is eager to get back to work and had been in talks with Trump to rebuild her image and feature as part of the line up for the upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice, which kicks off in March (11).
But Trump rejected the idea - because he insists Lohan needs more time to sort out her personal life before stepping back into the limelight - although he's not ruling it out for future series.
He tells Life & Style magazine, "(The Lohans) approached me, and we did talk about it. It's just not the right time.
"Lindsay has to straighten herself out first... It could happen in the future, but right now we need to see Lindsay get straightened out."
Lohan is facing jail time for again violating the terms of her probation following an altercation with a staffer at the clinic in December (10), and she is expected to learn her fate at her next court hearing on 25 February (11).
The full list of new contenders to become Trump's Celebrity Apprentice was unveiled on Friday (14Jan11). They include La Toya Jackson, Dionne Warwick, rockers Meat Loaf and Mark McGrath, actors Marlee Matlin and Gary Busey, and former teen idol David Cassidy.
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