Billy Bush Suspension: NBC Suspends Entertainer From 'Today' 'Indefinitely, See Statements From Nancy O'Dell & Arianne Zucker [VIDEO]
For his role in the tape that exposed Donald Trump making misogynistic comments about women that was leaked last week, Billy Bush has been suspended from NBC's Today Show.
After The Washington Post released the tape, where Donald Trump made comments about women where he claimed to be able to "grab them in the p***y" and made comments about Days of Our Lives actress Arianne Zucker, whom he objectified, and Bush's former Access Hollywood co-host Nancy O'Dell, who he admitted trying to "f**k," Bush released a statement where he apologized for his actions in appearing to goad Trump and encourage the comments.
"Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed. It's no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago-I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along," he said at the time.
However, since then, he has been indefinitely suspended, and his status on the network will be "pending review" according to a memo made by the NBC executive in charge of Today, Noah Oppenheim, to his staffers.
"Let me be clear-there is simply no excuse for Billy's language and behavior on that tape," he said. "NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter."
On the tape, Both O'Dell and Zucker are explicitly referenced in sexual terms, and both have since released statements of their own regarding what was said about them on the tape.
O'Dell, who Trump claimed to try and have sex with, but couldn't because she was married (she married Keith Zubulevich in 2005) used the incident to call for better treatment of women in general.
"Politics aside, I'm saddened that these comments still exist in our society at all. When I heard the comments yesterday, it was disappointing to hear such objectification of women. The conversation needs to change because no female, no person, should be the subject of such crass comments, whether or not cameras are rolling. Everyone deserves respect no matter the setting or gender. As a woman who has worked very hard to establish her career, and as a mom, I feel I must speak out with the hope that as a society we will always strive to be better," she said.
Zucker also used the situation to comment on how people in power sometimes abuse their position, and she wouldn't stand for it.
"My name is Arianne ZUCKER and I am a strong, independent, hard working mother, business woman and partner to a great man," she wrote. "I have grown to learn that the words of others cannot effect the value of my self worth or define the content of my character. How we treat one another, whether behind closed doors, locker rooms or face to face, should be done with kindness, dignity and respect. Unfortunately, there are too many people in power who abuse their position and disregard these simple principles and are rewarded for it. In understanding the magnitude of this situation, I choose to stand tall with self respect and use my voice to enrich, inspire and elevate the best of who we are as people."
Billy Bush hasn't commented about his suspension.
