Billy Bush has been suspended indefinitely by NBC on Sunday following the leak of his 2005 conversation with Donald Trump in which they make sexually crude comments about women.
Noah Oppenheim, executive producer of Noah Oppenheim, wrote a memo to his staff on Sunday saying that there is no excuse for his anchor’s behavior and that he’s been suspended pending review.
“I know we’ve all been deeply troubled by the revelations of the past 48 hours,” the memo began. “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."
Mr Bush hosts the third hour of the Today show and is the former host of Access Hollywood.
On Friday, The Washington Post published damning footage of Bush and Trump that was recorded on a hot mic. Mr Trump can be heard saying that “when you’re a star, they let you do anything. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,” he said. “Grab ‘em by the p****.”
Bush can be heard throughout the footage agreeing and encouraging with Mr Trump. He previously apologized on Friday when the footage resurfaced.
“Obviously I’m embarrassed and ashamed,” he said in a statement. “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.”
