“Access Hollywood” and “Today” show have suspended Billy Bush, 44, for his role in the 2005 conversation where Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was engaged in “locker room talk” and said, “Grab them by the p—y.”
Released by the Washington Post on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, the conversation turned ugly with Trump saying, “I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”
Bush has unfairly become a part of this political circus. Trump and Bush were on the set of “Days of Our Lives” when that awful conversation was picked up on a hot mic.
The New York City-born TV personality is the nephew of George H. W. Bush, our 41st U.S. president.
“Today” host Savannah Guthrie addressed Billy Bush’s suspension during Monday morning’s show saying, “We want to note one other thing. Pending further review of the matter, NBC News has suspended Billy Bush, the host of TODAY’s third hour, for his role in that conversation with Donald Trump.”
“Today” executive Noah Oppenheim first announced Bush’s ban in an email to the show’s team on Sunday night.
“Dear TODAY Family – I know we’ve all been deeply troubled by the revelations of the past 48 hours,” the statement read. “Let me be clear – there is simply no excuse for Billy’s language and behavior on that tape. NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter.
“If any of you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me directly, anytime day or night.
“Best, Noah.”
Bush attended the exclusive Colby College in Maine. He was hired by “Access Hollywood” in December 2001 and was promoted to co-anchor in June 2004. His rise to the top included co-hosting pre-show broadcasts for the Academy Awards in 2004, 2005 and 2006 as well as the Olympics in 2004 for NBC, a role he revived for the Winter Games in 2006, as well as the Beijing Games in 2008 and Rio in 2016.
Bush’s media focus has been solely entertainment, no politics at all. In 2008, he described himself as “so apolitical.”
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he said “I have respect for my uncle and my cousin, who have achieved great heights, but it’s not for me. People don’t even know how I vote.”
He’s interviewed pre-politics Trump throughout the years, and has been pictured with the reality television star.
He also hosted the Miss Universe pageant four times – in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009 – during the time Trump co-ran the competition.
Bush and his wife Sydney Davis married in 1999, and they have three children together.
