Billy Bush suspended from NBC’s Today Show following Trump tape leak
NBC anchor Billy Bush has been suspended from the network’s Today show after a taped conversation between himself and Donald Trump emerged over the weekend in which the pair were heard boasting about using their fame to take advantage of women.
Billy Bush suspended from NBC’s Today Show following Trump tape leak
Penning a letter to the morning show’s staff, Today executive Noah Oppenheim said that there was "simply no excuse" for the co-host’s actions.
“I know we've all been deeply troubled by the revelations of the past 48 hours,” he noted, "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."
He added: "If any of you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me directly, anytime day or night."
It is believed Bush was originally scheduled to take part in Monday's show and address the comments, but the situation looks to have changed.
The footage, revealed by the Washington Post on Saturday (8 October) hears Trump brag in lewd terms about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women during a 2005 conversation between the pair.
"And when you’re a star, they let you do it," Trump said, adding: "You can do anything.” Another voice, believed to Bush’s, responded: “Whatever you want."
The discussion took part as the duo were arriving on the set of Days of Our Lives to tape a segment about Trump’s cameo on the show, and hears them make crude remarks about the soap's actress Arianne Zucker.
Trump took to Facebook to apologize over the weekend, saying: "Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am. I said it. I am wrong. I apologize."
"I’ve never said I am a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that I am not. I’ve said and done things I regret and the words released today on this more than decade-old video are one of them."
Bush, meanwhile, said in a statement released by NBC News: "Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed. It's no excuse, but this happened eleven years ago — I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry."