If you listen to the full Access Hollywood tape, you come away with the fact that Billy Bush is pretty disgusting. Donald Trump’s comments on the tape rightly got the most attention, but after repeated viewings of that deplorable tape, it’s completely clear that Billy Bush is just as much a part of the vile conversation as Trump. This is rape culture in a nutshell: Billy Bush laughing as Donald Trump details the way he sexually assaults women by “grabbing them by the p-ssy.” In the immediate wake of the tape’s release, Billy Bush issued an apology:
“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.”
Bush was 33 years old at the time of the tape. Trump was 59 years old. So youthful. Boys will be boys, right? Initially, the story was that Billy would likely keep his job with NBC and the Today Show, and that he would make an appearance on today’s show to apologize to camera. That’s not going to happen now. Bush hasn’t been fired – he’s been suspended.
Billy Bush has been suspended from Today, PEOPLE has learned. In an email to the Today show staff, show executive Noah Oppenheim confirmed that the co-anchor had been suspended from the show pending a review into lewd comments he made about women while taping a segment with Donald Trump for Access Hollywood in 2005.
“Let me be clear — there is simply no excuse for Billy’s language and behavior on that tape,” Oppenheim said in an email to Today staff that was obtained by PEOPLE. “NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter.”
A show source previously told PEOPLE that the morning show could have a “mutiny” on its hands from its female staffers if Bush wasn’t disciplined in some way.
“I don’t want to see him again,” the source said. “And I think there are a lot of women who feel the same way … I know this will have to be addressed by the producers and NBC. It has to be, or else they’ll have a mutiny on their hands.”
Deadline reports that Matt Lauer also wanted Bush to be suspended or outright fired. Of course, NBC doesn’t really have clean hands here: NBC and Access Hollywood uncovered this tape in their archives one week ago, and they were sitting on it because – they claim – they wanted lawyers to review it. Deadline is basically calling bulls—t on all of NBC now, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if NBC had to do yet another internal investigation about how they conducted themselves.
Meanwhile, The Apprentice producer Mark Burnett has apparently been warning staffers about leaking any information about Trump. Burnett is a Trump supporter, and there’s a lot of reporting around Trump’s still-alleged behavior while on-camera for The Apprentice. Like, he sexually harassed contestants for years on-camera. Rachel Maddow has been floating the idea that there’s some kind of supercut of Trump harassing contestants, and Burnett must be worried that one of the staffers will leak something.
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
Release the tapes! I would like a staffer to leak the tapes so his campaign continues to unravel. This election is giving me anxiety!!!😰
Apparently, there’s a €5million fine for anybody who leaks those tapes. But I’ve seen reports that rich Clinton supporters are willing to pay those fines for anybody willing to leak them. I also read that the tapes include footage of Trump using the N word. Whatever it is, nobody’s in denying their existence. Or that they aren’t super damaging.
I would personally be willing to contribute towards a fund to pay that fine. Just putting that out there.
Word on the streets that Mark Cuban is willing to pay the $5M for the tape, and Mark is a real billionaire.
Mark Cuban = “real, actual billiionaire, who seemed to be having the time of his life on Bill Maher’s show Friday night.”
I could see wealthy Republicans even being wiling to pay the fine, just to fully expose this horrible oaf. I hope it happens.
I just read that Mark Burnett actually hasn’t said that to his staff and that he doesn’t actually own the rights to The Apprentice. It’s another production company. His statement said he actually generally supported Democrats. I was surprised. Don’t know if it’s true or not but I feel kind of lousy because I tweeted to the guy…
Apparently it won’t make a difference to his supporters, they’ll vote for him no matter what he says or does. I’ve spent all weekend arguing with people online, mostly women who support this pig, they truly do not care. I’ve never seen such stupidity in my life.
On Billy Bush, he should be fired! Douche.
Aww Jess I’m right there with you. I was so triggered that I became a bit of a commenting maniac, going to bat all over the place trying to understand how a woman could support him, but also, how can anyone?
I don’t understand how the deep deep of hatred for Hillary can trump ALL of that???
Agree, Jess. His supporters aren’t offended by misogyny or racism, sadly.
@LD-Funny (or not funny actually) I was just on FB and my friend posted a rant about Trump and some ahole (another shit stain I went to HS with-so many of them) posted the FSOG meme as response.
Three women immediately jumped on him to remind his that the difference is CONSENT and he instantly started with “I’m not voting for either of them they both suck” and then when my friend didn’t back down his response was verbatim “relax slut, this ain’t a d*ck, don’t take it so hard.”
O_O
This whole election is really highlighting the misogyny and outing all the secret women-haters. That guy even went on to say that he’s union and always votes Dem except this time. Gee, I wonder why? Surely it’s not because the Dem candidate is a woman…..
@kitten WHOA! I read this post and instantly my eyes popped waaaaay out of my head. He sounds like a real peach.
Also, it completely echoes my response on the other thread. This election is really showing us women (all of us) the true nature of people in our lives on so many issues.
My saving grace here is that thank GOD so many people in my life and surrounding life (ie Facebook) are liberal. I’m happy to say that those types of conversations or posts don’t swing up in my feed often. Usually I see the real assholes commenting on my friends posts, so I can debate with strangers and not feel personally violated.
@LD-Yeah I’m happy that sh*t didn’t happen on my page. I’m not “friends” with that dude on social media but I recognized him from HS.
Aside from my post telling Trump voters to unfriend me, I haven’t been diving into the political fray too much.
And my friend said the same as you. She was like “I didn’t realize I was associating with so many misogynists. Good to know who I need to delete!”
Could not agree more. I talked to a good friend over the weekend whom I had no idea was a Trump supporter. Her argument was “he is what he is. At least he’s honest. And Bill Clinton and most other politicians have had affairs, so Trump is no different.” I can’t even explain how this made me feel – devestatingly disappointed in her, personally hurt and offended, perplexed at the comparison.
I do no deign to claim that Clinton or any other politician, President, Mayor, etc. whose been known to have affairs are good men personally and I am able to separate the leader from the personal life. But there is a huge difference between having an affair with a willing partner, and harrassing women, viewing them as nothing more than a sexual object for their entertainment, assualting women, raping women, beating women, and wait for it….a continual pattern of marrying foreign women who have no power in the relationship. That is how I see Melania. She married a wealthy man who gave her a rich life and she’s never had to work a day since. She has no skills, no education, no real friends or family here, so the imbalance of power in that relationship is opposite ends of a spectrum. I do not feel sorry for her because she chooses material life and ease over integrity and self-respect. AND she brought yet another child into the picture when she had that man’s baby. I find her kind vile, have no respect for her/women like her, and only feel sorry for the children they bring into the mix. I feel sorry for the younger woman she was that initially hooked up with him, but at this point, she has made her decision.
I don’t think every cheater is necessarily a misogynist. Some people cheat because they have no morals and want sex with someone other than their partner. That is not at all the same as assaulting or raping women, or even having the mindset to man-handle them or coerce them into doing something they wouldn’t’ willingly do w/out feeling threatened, black-mailed, or obligated. Anthony Weiner is a pig. Guilianni is a pig. Clinton was a pig. But they are not rapists or assaulters. Trump IS and THAT is the difference. He also has positioned himself as owning all of the major beauty pageants. Why do people think that is? The answer is obvious and I’m waiting for buried activities to come about his interactions with those young women. Waiting…..
Consider this your opportunity to see people’s true colors. People aren’t supporting Trump because of his astute policies. They’re supporting him because he’s made racism acceptable. At least now you know who they really are.
@kitten are you SURE we aren’t friends in real life? I swear you remind me of a few of my real life friends, especially with your post about please delete me off of Facebook. Wouldn’t that be wild if we were FB friends?? Anyway, you are my soul sister, apparently, among so many posters here!!
I agree with everyone here & the only good thing is outing these racist & sexist people for what they are. You can’t change something if you are in complete denial and, at least, Trump made us (me) realize that I didn’t see all the hate out there. As Bridget said, you can’t support him for his policies (since there aren’t any) so people are jumping on to his platform of hate.
Kitten- your story reminds me of why I try to hide from high school classmates on facebook. It’s funny though how a lot of these people have no argument so they get boiled down to the essence of their reasoning and it’s usually some crap like calling someone a slut or a racial slur. Mine was this idiot on fb who finally ended a convo started with his ignorant comment with “black lives matter caused a traffic jam & my wife almost miscarried. I see my daughter and how black lives almost killed her”. I hung up on the convo then- can’t argue with crazy!
@LD-If we’re not FB friends we definitely should be. Then we could tag team these aholes lol.
@JenniferJustice-Agree with every word.
@MC2-LOLOL…OH MY 🙁
The lengths people will go to when they have no argument.
Yeah I’m pretty sure that dude blaming a #BLM protest for his wife’s miscarriage (that never-actually- happened-but-maybe-coulda-happened-but-really-probably-not) falls into that category.
I can’t believe we have to share the same country with these nutbags.
I read there is a tape from the Apprentice where Trump uses racial slurs.I am wondering if that would even sway his core supporters.He has made anti Muslim,anti Mexican,anti Women,anti veterans,etc.Would him using the N word even have an impact on his support?
His supporters wouldn’t care, guaranteed.
I’m sure his supporters use the word too.
They’re with him even though he was sued for discrimination against black renters. Frontline did a mini-bio on both prior to the debate. They glossed over some Trump parts, sadly. They didn’t discuss his draft dodging, for example.
It wouldn’t affect his core supporters (white misogynistic racists) but I think it’d help for two reasons:
a) With each “revelation” more and more Republican politicians make anti-Trump statements. The idea that you can be Republican and vote against Trump will eventually filter down to voters who aren’t particularly Trump fans but vote Republican because they’ve always voted Republican.
b) It might convince the people who weren’t planning to vote (because they are anti-Trump AND anti-Hillary) to vote in order to make a statement against Trump.
What is a suspension going to do? This behaviour will continue if the only consequence is a slap on the wrists. There needs to be real punishiment otherwise this will continue & worse still saying this is just how men talk & this is normal?
Suspension forces Billy to really check himself more than a half assed apology would. Forces other networks to evaluate if hiring him harms their reputation, thus having consequences. It also says loud and clear that NBC won’t blindly support a misongynistic overgrown frat boy OR rape culture. It happened 11 years ago and still he was suspended. I say RIGHT ON!
Also, women. We are the Today’s show prime audience. And most of us were mad.
Sorry, Billy, but the “youthful indiscretion” excuse is taken by your cousin George.
I think the suspension puts Billy on notice and gives NBC PR coverage that they did something while they check with legal to see if they can fire him as there have been a lot of calls for that to happen from viewers, employees and celebrities.
It also sees if this is enough in case they don’t want to fire him. Personally I want him gone.
That poor woman at the end of the tape who was, in effect, forced to hug them both after that lewd conversation.. That was pure power tripping and domination. He wasn’t just playing along, he was an active and eager participant in her debasement and humiliation. I would love to hear from her.
Yea Billy wasn’t some 12 year old child, he was a grown man that was married with children at the time. Seems like he should have known better than to speak about women like that.
Does anybody LIKE Billy Bush? I’ve never heard anyone react positively to him, it’s a wonder he had that position to begin with. NBC would be wise to give him the boot, IMO.
I hope someone ignores Burnett, and if they have something worthwhile, releases it.
Joel McHale made fun of him a lot on The Soup which I thought was great.
Omg thank YOU for reminding me of that!! He took a rip at him every chance he could.
I miss that show.
Someone call Joel McHale- he was really harsh on Billy Bush (which was amazing) but I wonder if there was a deeper reason……Billy Bush has always come across as an entitled, creepy, “it’s all good”, bro to the bros kind of guy. I’ve never liked him but I bet the guys up at hiring felt right at home with him. I can’t see his name and not see Alec saying “who wouldn’t try to impress THE Billy Bush”.
I will tell you for my part, I don’t even like Billy Bush. He is an awful journalist and an awful co-host. As for Mark Burnett, I call him a hypocrite just like the Jesus Freaks across America who supported Trump and I hope in good conscious that one of his staffers release more taped.
No I don’t think people like him at all. And NBC is a boys club they clearly give their male colleagues a slap on the wrist for things.
So happy I watch GMA when I have time in the AM. Much more enjoyable
I am with you @Nicole. Except call me old fashion but I love CBS for my morning fix.
I agree with you, Kiki. CBS actually covers news. The other two have turned into human-interest-celebrity-worship programs.
I suspect his cousin JEB really hates him right about now.
Or, conversely, really loves him. “Thanks for the tapes, cuz!”
Or, again, hates him, “why didn’t you give ME these tapes MONTHS ago?!?! Ya know, when I was running against Trump for the nomination?”
I remember when the Doug and Courtney story broke and Billy Bush really came for Doug. Made a big stink about having a daughter and how terrible the whole thing was.
Fingers crossed that Al Roker’s straw is a magic wand and Bush will be outta there permanently.
Of course, he will be spared the indignity of months-long (very loud) whisper campaigns that Ann Curry and Star Jones were subjected to…
I’m remembering all the stories about how angry execs were at ROKER, who was angry, but kept trying to move it along. Billy boy was the one who couldn’t let go defending Lochte. Good riddance to untalented rubbish.
The staffers signed a non disclosure agreement in which they would have to pay 5 mil if they disclose but various millionares are apparently getting together to help pay it off. That would be fantastic but i dont think that will change his unwavering support tbh he has opened the pandoras box for a group of vile, angry, and bigoted americans that will still be here after trump (hopefully) fades into oblivion
I’m sure Carlos Slim would be willing to pay that… Especially if he thinks, he can actually lose money with Trump as president
Right, they’re just sorry they got caught. Please, tell me again, how much you love and respect women… especially the hot ones, right? Ugh.
Translation: We’re absolutely not going to fire him, so we figured we “suspend” him for a while, and then quietly sneak him back on air. He’ll do his penance by helping produce the latest Jeebus epic concocted by Mark Burnett. and if our buddy Trump wins next month, who really cares what he said? Not us!!
And if he loses, they’ll have Matt Lauer narrate the documentary about his political journey.
Yup, it means…lets see if the Donald wins. And even if you don’t you are a Bush anyway so…..
Really? I think they’d prefer to get rid of him, and are just making sure he can’t sue. So killing time with a suspension. Why keep someone who people will no doubt boycott, when you can get a freah face for lower cost ?
At least they suspended him, which was more than I thought they’d do. But if he ever gets reinstated the Today Show is over for me. I’ll just have to get my Al Roker fix somewhere else.
On Friday, I sent the following email to NBC:
“When Billy Bush took over the 9:00 a.m. hour of TODAY, I wrote you stating that Billy Bush did not have the caliber or class to be associated with Al Roker and Tamron Hall. It would appear that I was correct. I change the channel every morning at 9:00 a.m. now, because I cannot stand to either look at or listen to the arrogant, insipid Billy Bush. And now we have him LIVE egging on Donald Trump in his lewd bragging of how he deals with women in the most demeaning, degrading way imaginable. I am now even more repulsed by Billy Bush. I don’t want to hear that it was eleven (11) years ago, because Billy was in his mid 30’s then, and Trump was 59. By the time one is either age, they are a formed adult. Billy’s excuse for his behavior does not cut it with me, just as whatever baloney Donald Trump comes up with as an excuse won’t work. Donald Trump was nearly 60 years old. They are both disgraceful. As Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, BELIEVE THEM.” Start listening to your viewers.”
Good for you! I REALLY hope they sack him but doubt they will. I hope their ratings take a massive hit, because they will listen to that.
Good for you! He was off-base in defending a lying athlete, and now this.
His comments about the woman accompanying the soap actress are his own, and they are awful. “Oof, get out of the way” is tasteless, whether he was 3 or 33. I don’t blame staffers for never wanting to be around him again.
The thing that I found to be so vile about Billy is when he told the young lady to hug Trump. Basically being a pimp.
And then to hug him too.
So disgusting, especially considering the conversation they were just having on the bus.
This.
It was the worst and so creepy.
That’s what grossed me out, too. Objectifying her to the point of dehumanizing her, then insulting her all over again by making her hug him unawares.
This is what made it even more vile to me. After THAT disgusting conversation, you push a woman into the lion’s den? That just told me that he’s no different from Trump… he saw nothing wrong with what Trump was saying. Sick pervert.
ETA: I also wondered how she felt seeing that after the fact. Hearing their interaction in the bus and the way they acted with her. I’d be beyond disgusted.
@PrincessMe, on the bus they were speaking about Nancy O’Dell, Billy Bush’s colleague. Arianna Zucker had to deal with their patronizing-ness when they met. Both women have released statements after seeing the video, and Nancy’s is well written.
@Ohdear, They were talking about Nancy at the beginning of the video. Torwards, the end of the video, they start talking about Arianne. As arianne approaches the bus to greet them, Billy says (paraphrasing) “Wow, your girl in the purple is hot as sh*t!” That’s when Trump mentions that he needs a tic-tac, and then starts going on about how he kisses and gropes women without their consent. His grosest comments were made in reference to Arianne Zucker.
thanks @Goldie, I didn’t know that (obviously). I had read Arianne’s tweet where she said it wasn’t her. It’s all gross, especially the fact that far too many people are excusing and dismissing the whole conversation.
I wish Hillary had followed Donald’s ‘its locker room talk’ with a moment to enlighten him and his defenders that ‘locker room talk’ continues to be the root of the sexism women still face on a daily basis and contributes to some people’s idea that men should have access to women regardless of consent.
Yes, vile is an understatement.
I know!! I didn’t even realize that part of the story until I watched the whole tape. It is so awful, especially given how they were just speaking about her. It just hammers home how much harassment some women have to put up with at work.
I totally agree! That’s when I lost it……he is a wing man & a willing participant. And we all know that feeling, right? When two guys come up to you and you think they were just saying something and then they laugh to each other. Jesus- to see it on tape was horrifying & told me that my gut was right so.many.times. They say behind every good man is a woman….well, behind every sick man is a bro.
Can I just ask a real dumb question.
What do then mean by locker room talk.
What ever it means how can any person (regardless if they have a daughter) think talking about what he said was a normal thing to talk about??
I feel like if you put a mic on men 90% of them will say something similar I’m sure.
Also with all the other republicans denouncing tump can they kick him out and put someone else in? (Non American and I know nothing about your politics)
The Republicans cannot remove him from their ticket because it is too late in the process. Some states have begun absentee and early voting.
As for “locker room talk,” many pro sports teams came out this weekend and said such conversations do NOT occur in their locker rooms. This is an extremely serious issue because the President is responsible for administering the federal workforce AND running the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which investigates sexual harassment cases nationally.
Oh I very glad that the pro teams came out to say that.
Thanks for the clarification.
Has his popularity dropped since this broke and post debate??
Locker room talk is supposed to be code for “guys being guys” – what they’re like when there’s no women present so they don’t have to censor themselves.
Maybe it’s locker room talk if the locker room is full of rapists/predators? And Billy Bush engaging in this kind of talk at the age of 33??? No wonder he thought Lochte was a kid🙄.
Mark Burnette is sitting on dynamite- he wouldn’t be making those threatening noises if he wasn’t. So hope it gets leaked. Maybe he could produce a show where Trump and Josh(?) Duggar have a friendly discussion. What a hypocrite.
Silly Billy Bush thought that he could deflect and minimize his role in denigrating women. I hate to think that NBC will let him off lightly with light suspension.
Patton Oswald was tweeting last night that leaks are in the works and will surface this week..we’ll see..
Please, please, please hurry with those leaks. America I am so afraid for you!!
I will never again watch any show MB produces.
When you make Matt Lauer look like a stalwart journalist you know it’s bad.
Good point.
I’m surprised Matt Lauer is even opening his mouth at all about getting rid of Bush, if the rumors are true. Given Lauer’s own disgusting behavior toward female staff during his career, you would think he would try to fly under the radar right now. Wishing Lauer could get caught red-handed like Bush.
At first I did not know about Billy Bush’s background. He comes from a wealthy family and he’s made his own money for years so now I do not feel bad at all if he lost his job. Bush has daughters and I am pretty sure he would not like it if Donald Trump or any other man for that matter grab them by the you the you know what. It is just disgusting. Yesterday I felt sorry for his family NOT HIM. But then I read about him and I don’t care if he ever gets fired and never gets another job.
He’s one of THOSE Bushes. Can you really call it “making your own money” when the only reason why you got the job in the first place is because of your family connections? Billy Bush is the worst, and has been for years and years.
Billy Bush, he should be fired!
The most suprising thing about this is Billy being related to George and Jeb Bush. H.W is his uncle.
What’s surprising about it? Yet another man from a rich, prominent, conservative Republican family who thinks sexual assault is just a bunch of fun and laughter.
It’s just amazing to me that Billy Bush is suspended from his talk show hosting job because of his comments, which were bad but not nearly as bad as Trumps, but Trump can go right along running for president like nothing ever happened and people are sweeping it under the rug.
It’s called double standards. NBC wants to wash their hands and feel good about themselves. Billy Bush is an asshat but seemed uncomfortable, almost appalled listening to Trump, inviting him to hang himself, but he hung himself instead. Like you say, Trump goes merrily on his way and brings Paula Jones and company to the town hall as if they’re besties when he scorned her on tape in the 90’s. This MF’er talks out of both sides of his mouth and his butt. Can you guess who I’m voting for….lol. Gotta laugh, because honest to goodness I had tears of anger last night.
If people were sweeping it under the rug the issue wouldn’t have been the first question asked of Trump in the debate nor would it be one of the main topics in our national discussion.
We’re very fortunate, IMHO, that people are giving it the attention it deserves and reacting appropriately.
Some people are talking about it yes but if you read headlines from news sources both left and right there are so many that say that Trump got his compaign back on track at the debate last night because Clinton didn’t go hard enough at him about the comments. Do I think that? No, but many many people think it’s all over and he dodged a bullet now because he apologized and they think he did well in the debate. He we had BB who really means nothing to anyone getting suspended and people are calling for his job but DT wants to lead the US and people are ok with that.
I doubt he has any supporter today that he didn’t have yesterday. That debate was so cynical and dark and so hard to watch. Hillary supporters wouldn’t abandon her over his stalking, demonic behavior. I don’t think he dodged a bullet, he just brought in a team of two decade old Bill Clinton victims whose story had been told in detail over and over during that time. Hiding behind women and not a one of them was a ten….you know how he rates women. Corrupt.
That’s what I came here to say! So this behavior is too abhorrent for a talk show host, but okay for the potential president of the United States?
And to the Trump supporters, “But rappers say worse things than that every day,” is not a defense.
Good. I’m glad billy bush is suspended. It had better turn into him being fired because now we all can see him for who he is. A pathetic excuse for a man. Such a follower. Just ewww. NBC is very much a democratic network with democratic viewers and honestly, if he stays on, their ratings will suffer. That’s a fact. Bye billy. Ugh, Fox will probably hire him…
I’ve always thought Billy Bush was douchey. I saw a few minutes of Access Hollywood twice in the last year and had to turn it off because it was just archives of him interviewing celebrities which showed, in his opinion, how very witty he was during said interviews. He would remind celebrities in more recent interviews how amusing he had been during previous interviews. Total ego stroke. Guess he wasn’t such a fan of how witty or entertaining he was during the “hot mic” archive interview with Donald Trump, huh?
Mark Burnett (another righteous, god-fearing, pious man… Iike Pence and Trump).
HYPOCRITE!
I so agree with you there, LinaLamont. Mark Burnett, and his simpering sister wife, is sleaze personified. He has made a fortune from plagiarising and catering to ignorant bible thumpers, and they eat it up as if he is the second coming! He is the very definition of hypocrite, and a creeping jeebus. What is the saying, “you can tell the character of a man by the company he keeps”!
I agree, LinaLomont. Mark Burnett is such a hypocrite. His wife appeared in “Touched by an Angel.”. Someone should ask her if she’s ever been Touched by a Trump,
I can tell you one thing…if Billy Bush isn’t fired, I’d hope the Today show ratings will be affected….I’ve always been a fan and while I have been annoyed with people, situations in the past (ahem, Matt Lauer) this REALLY crosses a line and I’d imagine it’s the case for half of their viewing audience at least!?
I’m still hoping that he will get canned. And I hope that it would be framed in a way that it was due to violating the sexual harassment laws. After all, Arianne was an NBC employee, who had been attached to the network longer than Trump was at the time (I remember her from back in ’01, at least). IMO, it would be a great statement for NBC to make, especially since NBC is notorious for treating their non-NBC News talent like an afterthought.
Glad to hear it but wish he was fired instead. I wrote an email to the Today Show telling them my thoughts on the matter yesterday plus signed the Change.org petition to have him fired. He’s just as gross as Trump. And did not know this about Burnett, don’t think I watch any of his shows but if I do that’s over.
I really hope they release that tape, that needs to be out in the open.
““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.”
I thought this was Donald Trump’s apology. I could have sworn I saw this reported on CNN (am I wrong?).
That’s Billy’s apology.
Yeah, I realize this now — but I could have sworn this was reported as Donald Trump’s apology on news outlets a few days ago.
Funny, NBC didn’t have any issues with Trump when they ran “The Apprentice” for a decade. Entertainment and Media hypocrisy knows no limits.
I wouldn’t worry too much about Billy Bush…he’s a cousin/nephew of a major political family.
What I don’t get is how someone would need “their Roker fix”. He’s not fresh.
Thank you Eric! I too have been wondering why anyone needed a fix of that arrogant sharter Roker.
The Tamron Hall love, on the other hand I completely agree with
I hope the tapes get released but they won’t do any real damage to his core! His followers are just like him & will continue to follow him regardless of what he says or does. If he’s caught talking about “the blacks”, calling us the N-word, it’ll just be another example of his racism that we’ve seen time and time again. He already thinks we all live in Chicago or the inner cities (aka hell). But his supporters will applaud him for not sugarcoating anything & not being politically correct. Same thing goes if he’s caught talking about woman, Muslims, Mexicans, etc.
I haven’t watched the Today Show in Years so I wasn’t quite sure about their respective places, what I am REEEAAALLLYYYYY interested in is: The Gossips on the Dynamics at NBC/Today show/Access Hollywood, cause Natalie Morales seems to be in front of this report as though she Procured it.. Then I wonder.. Is Billy Bush not a coworker?? and she still wentr looking and Finding this ?? I personally Love it.. cause think of the most *ssholey Cguy that works with you.. think of holding something like this to appropriately get him off the paint.. Is Natalie not renewing her Contracts?? what’s Up?!
Hmmm…..inquiring minds want to know! I did see Morales was the first to come out in defense of THE Billy Bush which made me cringe. She said he shouldn’t be fired but maybe she was downplaying her involvement??? I don’t know but I hated seeing her defend him and what about Nancy?! The Today Show is a hot mess and I am really, really, really hating NBC right now.
I have to admit, I wasn’t surprised that he was doing the bro thing w/Trump but I was shocked & deeply saddened that he didn’t at least stand up for Nancy O’Dell
I would like to know what the other Bush family members think about this, particularly twins Jenna and Barbara and their mom and grandmother.
I want to know what JEB thinks. He could have used this during his campaign.
Ok, I have a question that has been really bothering me. And you ladies would be the only people I think could give me legit advice. I have a friend ( supposed to be my best friend), but all she does is date misogynistic assholes. I literally had to tell her the definition of misogyny last week. So, she dates a guy and all of the sudden becomes a Trump supporter. I have been trying to be nice because she just had a baby about 8 weeks ago. The baby’s daddy and the guy she moved in with a week after baby(don’t even get me started on that) were both Trump supporters and she just went with their opinions. Now that they are gone, she is for Hillary again. This ex that she got away from yesterday is a paramedic and taped his female partner using the restroom, if that isn’t abuse I don’t know what is. What do I do? I need advice. I am worried for that baby!
How awful! Try to tell her kindly when she’s being unwise. Which is probably often..:(
Honestly, it’s not that rare for people to change depending on who they hang out with. Everyone does it a little: acts differently depending on whether they’re with drinking buddies or their grandmother; their workmates or their boss.
But some people take it to extremes and become douche-bags if they’re near a douche-bag. If that’s the type of person she is, then it’s not going to change. I don’t think warning her off certain guys is going to work. You either have to put up with her turning into a clone of whoever she’s dating or cut her off. The one possible loophole is if you can set her up with a nice guy so that when she becomes his clone it won’t annoy you so much.
What did Hoda and Kathie Lee say about this,today?
Oh Burnett, please please please fire a staffer for leaking when they talk about Trump’s behavior so they can sue you into oblivion. And if he touched any of them? That’s assault, and if you retaliate for reporting a crime, you’ve turned the ex-employee into a whistleblower, which means you’re REALLY screwed.
I cannot stand Mark Burnett. He and Roma Downey have this BS pious act thing, but he has no problem covering up for Trump’s deplorable behavior. STFU Burnett.
@Izzy – their pious act is such BS – I’m pretty sure they were both married to other people when they go together
Of course they suspended him, they already have an optics issue with Matt Lauer, they’re very aware that their female audience has a problem with him ever since the Ann Curry debacle. They can’t afford to ignore this too. The only reason Lauer cares is because it makes them all look bad, I doubt he actually cares about Billy Bush’s bad behavior back then.
As for Mark Burnett, he needs to STFU. He has this phony pious thing going on with Roma Downey, while he puts up with Trump’s disgusting antics. So please, spare me. If he fires an employee I hope they sue him into oblivion.
@Nicole: Sounds like your friend needs professional help. Not because she is a Trump supporter (though I believe they all need professional help) but due to her tumultuous lovelife. That baby doesn’t stand a chance if she can’t provide it a stable, loving home with a revolving door of men who treat her terribly. I don’t know what kind of mom she is. Chances are she’s a great mom and just has terrible taste in men. But she needs to realize it isn’t about her now. It’s about her and the baby and the decisions she makes will affect her kid.
I have told her this, gently of course. First response, I need to take care of myself as well. I wanted to scream. She goes into so many relationships, the other day she told me she must be on a mission from God. All I think is take some damn responsibility for once in your life!
Oh and she blames it on her bi-polar. I have bi-polar and know that my decisions are my own and not from God or a mental health disease.
The little suckup got suspended. Good. I bet Al Roker is having the best day ever.
Listening to the sound of Billy Bush sycophantically giggling and guffawing at Trump as he demeaned and verbally assaulted women was the emotional equivalent of being pushed face-first into a pile of feces. It was in and of itself an assault and a disgusting, degrading demonstration of another danger to women: how even a weak-minded, backside-licking flunky like Bush can endanger women by admiringly egging on pigs like Trump. And then winkingly encouraging the actress to touch and hug them moments after Trump had sucked down tic tacs in anticipation of getting close to her – personally presenting his hero with his prey – was just another example of contempt and humiliation.
And I have to admit I also judge the women who support (or ignore) this behaviour harshly. I expect more of women than I do of men. I believe women are fundamentally more intellectually intelligent than men because they are also more emotionally intelligent… and the combination gives them (us) access to a more complex and truer understanding of people and the world and the issues that plague us or please us.
I think the women who support men like Trump (and Clinton to be honest) sacrifice a large part of their emotional intelligence most often because they either want to be with or compete with the kind of men who need those kind of women: bullies and businessmen. So I’m not all that thrilled with Hillary either. But neither she nor the women who support Trump are Trump, so there’s no contest – intellectually or emotionally… or Presidentially.
Don’t worry Billy. They are saving a spot for you over at Fox News where you can let your deplorable flag FLY!
I agree with you 100%!
I heard a 28 year woman call into NPR today to talk about Trump and this tape. And her take was that “of course the women must have done something to provoke him (Trump)” Yes, lady, I am *sure* these women did something that provoked a man in his 50’s to grab their genitals or force his face onto theirs. He just had no choice when they put their beautiful selves in his presence. The speaker on the show said “Wow! Just wow! I don’t even know how to respond to that”
So, yes there are women who will support Trump no matter how vile his words and deeds. smh. So many people blame the victims, or get almost delusional about supporting people for whatever crazy reasons, and then there is no common sense or facts or moral arguments you can offer them that will shake their beliefs (usually in a man, often in a white man or a rich white man)
Something I do NOT get about all of this: Mark Burnett and wife Roma Downey have been named top ten Christian leaders for their film and broadcasting development (The Bible, Ben Hur remake) –how does he reconcile his apparently devout Christianity with Trump and the Apprentice tapes? How can he be a supporter of the Cheeto Spawn of S, and have no trouble covering up for him, even giving him a platform?
How can Roma be okay with this?
If the Trump was touched by an angel, it must have been a fallen one!