Shark Tank‘s Lori Greiner is not afraid to put a contestant in their place.
During Sunday night’s episode, physician Sarath Malepati presented the sharks with his invention, EZC Pak, a five-day immune support pack made of echinacea, zinc and vitamin C that claims to boost the immune system and fight viruses.
But afterMark Cubanwas overly critical of the product, Malepati found himself in hot water with Greiner who accused him of treating her differently because she was the only woman on the panel.
“You are kind of looking at me funny. Do you agree with what I am saying or no?” Greiner, 49, said to Malepati as he was avoiding making eye contact with her.
“Well, wait a minute, why are you ignoring what I am saying?” Greiner cut in. “That’s odd to me. I’m talking to you and you are looking over at Mark. And I’m telling you I’m into it.”
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Lori Greiner and Sarath Malepati[/caption]
“Mark, I’m from Pittsburg,” Malepati said to Cuban, 61, as Greiner was still speaking to him.
“Wait a minute. You know what, I’m just gonna finish,” a visibly annoyed Greiner said. “I was the customer, I’ve been taking zinc for years, I’m a believer in this, I’m the one talking about antibiotic resistance and how important it is. But the fact that when I am talking to you, you don’t even look at me, I’m out.”
After some of the male investors began talking out loud, Malepati apologized to Greiner for offending her.
“I am offended. I feel like you don’t respect me as a female sitting here,” she said.
“I have a lot of respect for you,” Malepati told her. “I think one of the things I really like about you is you are so positive, you’re so upbeat, and you’ve helped so many people.”
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“You’re getting that vibe from her right now?”Robert Herjavecjokingly said.
Greiner laid into him.
The accusation came as a surprise to the male sharks, with Cuban telling Greiner that maybe Malepati was just nervous.
“I’m not a chauvinist,” he said.
The conversation then shifted back to his product’s sales. O’Leary, 65, ultimately made an offer to Malepati that he agreed to: $125,000 for 5% stake plus a royalty of $1 per unit which maxes out after $450,000 is paid.
But while Malepati closed a successful deal, his tense exchange with Greiner left him still shaken at the end of the episode.
“When Lori accused me of being a chauvinist, I was very surprised. That’s not who I am as a human being and I’m sorry that she felt that way,” he said.
Shark Tankairs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
source: people.com
