Billy Bush has a very interesting interview style. It somehow simultaneously seems so surface-level, yet he always finds himself in controversies usually reserved for tough journalists who will stop at nothing to get the truth from their guests. Ricky Martin reportedly got so pissed off by Bush’s line of questioning that he pulled off his microphone and walked out of their interview.
This was in the early 2000s, before Ricky Martin officially announced that he’s a homosexual man. The rumors had been mounting around the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” singer for years regarding his sexuality. Barbara Walters pressed Martin on these rumors, and despite him opting not to respond, he later said he felt incredibly violated by the questions.
Billy Bush, looking back on his career with Rob Lowe, reminisced about when he got to interview Ricky Martin right after this event. The former Access Hollywood host revealed how his question to Martin about his sexuality froze the pop star in his chair before he finally got up and told him, “You moth—ker,” then walked out of the interview saying, “You want your headline … You piece of garbage.”
The Bush family member said that the two soon found a way to work through their differences, however. According to Page Six, Billy Bush later walked up to Ricky Martin where they had the interview and apologized for his intrusive question. Ricky Martin was reportedly receptive to the apology despite being hostile not too long before, telling Bush, “I’ve been struggling with this my whole life. There will be a time, there will be a place. It will not be here on this program while I’m promoting this album.”
That interaction apparently taught Billy Bush valuable lessons, and he shared them as, “Don’t be an asshole, don’t be an idiot. You have to find nuance in this business.” Now, Billy Bush hosts a podcast called Hot Mic in reference to his gaffe with Donald Trump, where the president was heard saying misogynistic things about women that almost torpedoed his entire campaign. Trump, however, claimed that was just how men talk in locker rooms and is now supposedly showing how far from a misogynist he is by attacking trans women throughout the country. Billy Bush, on the other hand, claims that one gaffe cost him millions in opportunities, but these days he’s trying to spread positivity in his own way and even recently supported Kelley Wolf through her tough divorce.
Ricky Martin finally made his announcement via his website in 2010 when he was good and ready to talk about his sexuality with his fans. Martin’s statement in part read, “These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.”
Billy Bush reiterated to Rob Lowe that his goal in the industry has never been to hurt his guests. Bush admitted he has made huge mistakes in his career, but that’s just a part of the journey.
