Not his biggest fans. Days after the 2005 Access Hollywood video of Billy Bush and Donald Trump making vulgar comments about women was released, a source tells Us Weekly that Bush’s Today show coworkers are not too fond of the 44-year-old TV host.
The insider confirms to Us that Today’s Tamron Hall, Matt Lauer and Al Roker strongly dislike Bush. Additionally, the insider says that the NBC personality’s future at the show is uncertain after the incriminating footage was leaked to The Washington Post on Friday, October 7.
However, a Today show source tells Us, “The anchors and hosts of the show each had a good relationship with Billy. The show staff is comfortable with how the situation is being handled.”
In the 11-year-old video, Bush and the ex-Celebrity Apprentice host, 70, make lewd remarks minutes before they taped a segment for Access Hollywood. Bush and Trump didn’t know their mics were on as they engaged in inappropriate banter about the business mogul’s failed efforts to “f–k” a married woman, who was later identified as Entertainment Tonight’s Nancy O’Dell.
The clip caused a media firestorm and prompted Bush to delete his Twitter account and apologize for his past behavior.
“Obviously I’m embarrassed and ashamed,” he told Us in a statement on Friday. “It’s no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago — I was younger, less mature and acted foolishly in playing along. I’m very sorry.” (Bush was 33 and Trump was 59 at the time.) Two days later, NBC announced that Bush — Jeb Bush’s cousin — was suspended from the Today show indefinitely.
Savannah Guthrie briefly mentioned Bush’s absence on the Monday, October 10, episode of Today. “We want to note one other thing. Pending further review of the matter, NBC News has suspended Billy Bush as the host of Today’s third hour for his role in that conversation with Donald Trump,” she said.
In the next hour, Bush’s cohosts Roker, 62, and Hall, 46, chimed in. “As you can see, Billy Bush is not joining us today. As you’re probably aware, [he was] part of that 2005 Access Hollywood taping with Donald Trump that’s been in the news all weekend,” Roker said.
Hall added: “NBC, which owns Access Hollywood, has suspended Billy for his role in that conversation pending further review.”
Meanwhile, Bush’s former Access Hollywood colleagues have had nothing but positive things to say about him.
“He was always in my corner,” Kit Hoover said on Monday morning’s edition of AH. “I was just devastated to watch all this unfold because the Billy that I know — and that a lot of people would say — has the biggest heart of anybody, and he is a good person.”
Natalie Morales echoed a similar sentiment: “One of the first people to call me and congratulate me when I announced that I would be getting this job was Billy. He also offered advice and offered to help with my move and transition.”
