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| Billy Bush dropped by NBC after Trump tape about groping women leaked | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Billy Bush was fired from NBC’s Today show on Monday following the leak of a 2005 video in which he and Donald Trump joked about groping women without consent. | Billy Bush was fired from NBC’s Today show on Monday following the leak of a 2005 video in which he and Donald Trump joked about groping women without consent. |
| NBC Universal, the parent company of the television network, did not immediately respond to questions about the settlement with Bush, who was only a few months into a three-year contract with the morning show. | NBC Universal, the parent company of the television network, did not immediately respond to questions about the settlement with Bush, who was only a few months into a three-year contract with the morning show. |
| Hours before the announcement, Melania Trump, the wife of the Republican presidential nominee, told CNN that her husband “was led on, like egg[ed] on, from the host to say dirty and bad stuff”. | Hours before the announcement, Melania Trump, the wife of the Republican presidential nominee, told CNN that her husband “was led on, like egg[ed] on, from the host to say dirty and bad stuff”. |
| Bush was suspended from the network after the video, from his time as a host of the NBC show Access Hollywood, was published by the Washington Post earlier this month. On the video, the host and Trump can be heard laughing about women, with Trump bragging that a famous person “can do anything” to women without consent, including “grab them by the pussy”. | Bush was suspended from the network after the video, from his time as a host of the NBC show Access Hollywood, was published by the Washington Post earlier this month. On the video, the host and Trump can be heard laughing about women, with Trump bragging that a famous person “can do anything” to women without consent, including “grab them by the pussy”. |
| Bush can be heard laughing at Trump’s remarks, which were caught on tape by a live microphone while they were in a bus heading to the set of a soap opera. When they left the bus, Bush encouraged Arianne Zucker, a soap opera actor who met them at the studio, to hug them, saying: “How about a little hug for the Donald?” | Bush can be heard laughing at Trump’s remarks, which were caught on tape by a live microphone while they were in a bus heading to the set of a soap opera. When they left the bus, Bush encouraged Arianne Zucker, a soap opera actor who met them at the studio, to hug them, saying: “How about a little hug for the Donald?” |
| At the second presidential debate, Trump called the remarks “locker room talk” and denied ever having acted on them. | At the second presidential debate, Trump called the remarks “locker room talk” and denied ever having acted on them. |
| Since then, about a dozen women have come forward to accuse Trump of inappropriate advances, ranging from kissing without consent to aggressive groping and walking in on the changing room of teen beauty pageant contestants. | Since then, about a dozen women have come forward to accuse Trump of inappropriate advances, ranging from kissing without consent to aggressive groping and walking in on the changing room of teen beauty pageant contestants. |
| Bush, 45, had apologized for his conduct in the video on the day of its release, saying: “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. I’m very sorry.” | Bush, 45, had apologized for his conduct in the video on the day of its release, saying: “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. I’m very sorry.” |
| On Monday, Bush released a statement through NBC saying that he appreciated “conversations I’ve had with my daughters” and “support from family, friends and colleagues”. | On Monday, Bush released a statement through NBC saying that he appreciated “conversations I’ve had with my daughters” and “support from family, friends and colleagues”. |
| “I look forward to what lies ahead.” | “I look forward to what lies ahead.” |
| According to USA Today, NBC executive producer Noah Oppenheim sent staff a note on Monday announcing Bush’s departure. | According to USA Today, NBC executive producer Noah Oppenheim sent staff a note on Monday announcing Bush’s departure. |
| “Billy Bush will be leaving the Todayshow’s 9am hour, effective today,” the note said, according to the paper. “While he was a new member of the Today team, he was a valued colleague and longtime member of the broader NBC family. We wish him success as he goes forward.” | “Billy Bush will be leaving the Todayshow’s 9am hour, effective today,” the note said, according to the paper. “While he was a new member of the Today team, he was a valued colleague and longtime member of the broader NBC family. We wish him success as he goes forward.” |
| The TV host, who is a cousin of former president George W Bush and former Florida governor Jeb Bush, had signed a three-year, $3.5m-per-year contract in August to join the network’s morning show. | The TV host, who is a cousin of former president George W Bush and former Florida governor Jeb Bush, had signed a three-year, $3.5m-per-year contract in August to join the network’s morning show. |