Keeping his distance. Billy Bush has been spending time with his family on the West Coast while NBC producers in NYC decide his fate at the Today show.
The TV personality, 44, was photographed out to lunch with his daughter Josie in L.A.’s Encino neighborhood, on Monday, October 10. He carried his phone and wore sweatpants and a T-shirt that featured his company, Beach Whiskey.
Bush has been caught in a media storm since last week. On Friday, The Washington Post released footage of a conversation between him and Donald Trump, who spoke crassly about women in general and a certain reporter in particular, later revealed to be Nancy O’Dell. Bush seemed to egg Trump on as the mogul, 70, talked about groping and kissing women without permission because he’s “a star.”
Bush was suspended from the Today show indefinitely, and Carson Daly is taking over in his absence. Bush released a statement about the matter on Friday. “Obviously I’m embarrassed and ashamed,” he told Us Weekly. “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 at the time.)
An insider told Us that Bush was “devastated” when he heard that the tape had leaked. “He was crying that his career was over,” the source said.
Trump, meanwhile, apologized for his behavior in a video but later defended his comments during the second presidential debate. “It’s just words, folks. It’s just words,” he said on Sunday. “This was locker-room talk. I’m not proud of it.”
While Trump continues on the campaign trail, Bush is awaiting his fate. As Us exclusively reported, his colleagues — Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Tamron Hall — aren’t thrilled with him.
However, a Today show source countered: “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.”