Billy Bush, Former ‘Today’ Host, Plans Comeback After Lewd Trump Recording
It was Friday on 7th October 2016, when The Washington Post produced a leaked, 11-year old conversation between Billy Bush, then host of “Access Hollywood” and Donald J. Trump. In that infamous conversation it was heard that Mr. Trump was bragging how he used to seduce, kiss and grab married women and Bush was laughing along with him. The tape could have destroyed Trump’s presidential run instead Bush’s career was imploded and he was fired from NBC’s Today under an undisclosed agreement. After spending seven months away from media and spotlight, Bush came forward and had his first interview with The Hollywood Reporter. While conversing he said, he wanted to apologize on television but was never given an opportunity.
In October, however, a short statement was issued by Bush where he is justifying his act as ‘shameful’ and ‘embarrassing’. He said in his interview that he purposely was away from media and avoided them as he wanted to be better man. He is apologizing of what he had done and he hopes to come back to television. He clarifies that since then he has not spoken to Mr. Trump.
In those seven months, Bush engaged himself in soul searching, went to Napa Valley healing retreat, walked with spiritual guru Tony Robbins, practiced meditation and yoga and read books on free time. He spent more time with his family which includes his wife and 3 daughters.
While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Bush says that the situation played its trick, instead of Trump’s image getting destroyed;his image was tarnished and stained. He justifies now he has deeper values for women and whenever similar situation will occur, he will shut down quickly. Trump was Bush’s main assignment so he tried to spend more time with him as he always used to speak headline worthy statements and Access Hollywood was too much interested in that.
Bush recalls how he regretted that he didn’t changed the topic that day while conversing in the bus. He says he didn’t had the courage to do it since he was completely in Trump’s environment. Trump characterised the conversation to a “locker room banter” which was quite unfair as it is untrue. Bush is still unaware of who leaked the tape, as he never discussed it with anybody. Bush recalls how he felt awful and worse watching it.
Bush is very apologetic and wants to return to his favourite job that is television, interviewing people and communicating. He understands that today in the era of social media how flame becomes bonfire, so he is aware how careful he has to become with his pen and thoughts. He thinks there are people like him who are in crisis, so he plans to write them, call them and take their interviews while sharing his own experience with them and asking them to believe in him. Bush is quite positive in his approach and he feels that he has definitely changed to a better person.