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Billy Bush Says He’s Ashamed by Lewd Talk With Donald Trump Billy Bush Says He’s Ashamed by Lewd Talk With Donald Trump
(about 1 hour later)
For Billy Bush, the presidential cousin and genial Hollywood interviewer, this was supposed to be a transformative year. For Billy Bush, the presidential cousin and genial Hollywood interviewer, 2016 was supposed to be a transformative year.
But not like this.But not like this.
Just weeks after starting a high-profile hosting gig on NBC’s “Today” show, Mr. Bush on Friday found himself cast in a harsh and unflattering light after video emerged of him exchanging lewd and misogynistic remarks about women with Donald J. Trump. Just weeks after starting a prestigious gig as a host on NBC’s “Today” show, Mr. Bush on Friday found himself cast in a harsh and unflattering light — and facing scattered calls online to resign — after video emerged of him exchanging lewd and misogynistic remarks about women with Donald J. Trump.
In the video, from 2005, Mr. Bush can be heard laughing as Mr. Trump describes in lewd terms his efforts to seduce a married woman. The men, who were taping a segment for “Access Hollywood,” then boisterously admire the looks of a nearby television actress, with Mr. Bush shouting, “Yes, the Donald has scored!” In the video, from 2005, Mr. Bush can be heard laughing as Mr. Trump describes in vulgar terms his efforts to seduce a married woman. The men, who were taping a segment for “Access Hollywood,” then boisterously admire the looks of a nearby television actress, with Mr. Bush shouting, “Yes, the Donald has scored!”
When Mr. Trump boasts that as a celebrity, he “can do anything” with women, another voice, apparently Mr. Bush’s, laughs and says: “Whatever you want.” Mr. Bush also encouraged the actress to give Mr. Trump a hug. When Mr. Trump boasts that as a celebrity, he “can do anything” with women, another voice, apparently Mr. Bush’s, laughs and says: “Whatever you want.”
Mr. Bush, 44, a cousin of former President George W. Bush, is known as a gung-ho entertainment journalist with a talent for cozying up to celebrities, a skill he honed for 15 years on “Access Hollywood.” Mr. Bush, 44, issued a statement on Friday evening, writing: “Obviously I’m embarrassed and ashamed. It’s no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago — I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along.”
His move to the 9 a.m. slot of the “Today” show, announced in May, was supposed to be a major career leap. But Mr. Bush struggled to adapt his preppy persona to the gauzier realm of morning television and tensions with co-stars spilled into the open, including an on-air rebuke from Al Roker over Mr. Bush’s defense of the Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte. A spokesman for NBC declined to comment. Network executives said they had no current plans to discipline Mr. Bush. But Mr. Bush’s position could become precarious if there is a strong and sustained backlash against the video.
Mr. Bush issued a statement on Friday evening, writing: “Obviously I’m embarrassed and ashamed. It’s no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago — I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along.” Already his Facebook page was being flooded with hundreds of outraged comments, many from women, a group that “Today” counts as a crucial part of its audience.
Mr. Bush’s behavior in the Trump video, which was published on Friday afternoon by The Washington Post, prompted an immediate online backlash. Mr. Bush’s Facebook page was flooded with hundreds of outraged comments, many from women, a group that “Today” counts as a crucial part of its audience.
“Just saw the video with you and Donald Trump,” wrote a Facebook user named Gina Preziosi, beneath a picture of Mr. Bush handing out strips of bacon to a group of “Today” viewers. “You’re as scummy as he is.”“Just saw the video with you and Donald Trump,” wrote a Facebook user named Gina Preziosi, beneath a picture of Mr. Bush handing out strips of bacon to a group of “Today” viewers. “You’re as scummy as he is.”
“WOW,” wrote a woman named Lavern Smith. “You’re such a pig.”“WOW,” wrote a woman named Lavern Smith. “You’re such a pig.”
Representatives for NBC and “Access Hollywood” declined to comment on Friday. Inquiries to Mr. Bush’s agent were not returned. Executives at NBC said they had no current plans to discipline Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush’s move to the 9 a.m. slot of the “Today” show, announced in May, was viewed as a major career leap. But he struggled to adapt his preppy persona to the gauzier realm of morning television, and tensions with co-stars soon spilled into the open, including an on-air rebuke from Al Roker when Mr. Bush defended the Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte.
When Mr. Bush joined “Access Hollywood” in 2001 as its East Coast correspondent part of his job was befriending celebrities and putting them at ease. “I bang around,” he told The New York Times in 2002. “Hanging around with people, that’s my thing.” The recording of Mr. Bush with Mr. Trump, published on Friday afternoon by The Washington Post, was particularly ill-timed: The television industry is facing scrutiny over its treatment of women after a spate of sexual harassment allegations at Fox News.
A member of one of the country’s most powerful families, he became a popular figure in the world of entertainment, where he “covered and interviewed literally everyone in Hollywood,” as Noah Oppenheim, a senior “Today” show producer, wrote in a memo announcing his hire this year. Mr. Bush, a cousin of former President George W. Bush, is known as a gung-ho entertainment journalist with a talent for cozying up to celebrities, a skill he honed for 15 years on “Access Hollywood.”
But his go-along, get-along style proved a liability this summer. Mr. Bush appeared to score a journalistic coup when he interviewed Mr. Lochte, the Olympic swimmer, in Rio de Janeiro, shortly after Mr. Lochte claimed to have been the victim of an attempted armed robbery. “I bang around,” he told The New York Times in 2002. “Hanging around with people, that’s my thing.”
Mr. Lochte later admitted he had made up his account. When Mr. Bush said on live television that Mr. Lochte had merely “embellished,” Mr. Roker, visibly frustrated, saying, “He lied.” One of those people was Mr. Trump. On several occasions, Mr. Bush hosted the Miss Universe pageant, which was once owned by Mr. Trump, and in November 2004 he accompanied the real estate developer as he cast his presidential ballot.
The footage released on Friday is particularly ill-timed because of recent scrutiny on the television industry’s treatment of women, notably the sexual harassment allegations at Fox News and the ouster of its chairman, Roger Ailes. “Billy has covered and interviewed literally everyone in Hollywood,” Noah Oppenheim, a senior “Today” show producer, wrote in a memo announcing his hiring this year.
In the video, Mr. Bush is heard on a live microphone joking with Mr. Trump as they travel on an “Access Hollywood” bus to the set of “Days of Our Lives,” where Mr. Trump was taping a segment. But Mr. Bush’s go-along, get-along style proved a liability at this summer’s Olympics in Brazil. Mr. Bush had appeared to score a journalistic coup by interviewing Mr. Lochte shortly after the swimmer claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint.
When the men spot Arianne Zucker, the actress who would be greeting Mr. Trump, Mr. Bush, using a profanity, marvels at her looks. As Mr. Trump veers into vulgar comments about aggressively groping and kissing women, Mr. Bush continues to comment on Ms. Zucker’s appearance, saying, “Oh, that’s good legs.” Mr. Lochte later admitted he made up his account. When Mr. Bush later defended the swimmer, saying Mr. Lochte had merely “embellished” his account, Mr. Roker, visibly frustrated, rebuked him, saying of Mr. Lochte: “He lied.” The exchange, which aired live, quickly went viral.
When his view of the actress was apparently blocked, Mr. Bush barks, “Oof, get out of the way, honey.” The video of Mr. Bush and Mr. Trump published on Friday was unearthed this week by “Access Hollywood” producers, who were reviewing archives for past interviews with Mr. Trump. NBC News, a corporate cousin of “Access Hollywood,” also became aware of the tape, and both news outlets began to prepare stories.
At the end of the footage, Mr. Bush is seen saying farewell to Mr. Trump. “You’re my man,” he says. But The Washington Post also obtained a copy.
In the video, Mr. Bush is heard on a live microphone joking with Mr. Trump as they travel in a van to the set of “Days of Our Lives,” where Mr. Trump was taping a guest appearance. When the men spot Arianne Zucker, the actress who would be greeting Mr. Trump, Mr. Bush, using a profanity, marvels at her looks.
Upon greeting the actress, Mr. Bush insists that the actress hug Mr. Trump. He then makes his own request: “How about a little hug for the bushy?”