'Dancing With the Stars' 2016: Producers Looking To Court Billy Bush For Spring Season? [VIDEO]
Fresh off casting the controversial Ryan Lochte for Dancing With the Stars this fall, the dance competition is apparently courting another controversial figure of late for next season: Billy Bush.
The now infamous Donald Trump audio leak, which features the GOP nominee making sexually aggressive comments about women to Bush, also included Bush laughing and playing along with his comments. This has led to very negative consequences for the former Access Hollywood host, having been suspended from his role on Today.
But now, Bush might be looking to rehabilitate his career with a stint on Dancing With the Stars. The dance competition is reportedly looking to possibly cast Bush in the show's upcoming 24th season, according to PageSix.
"It comes in March," a source told the publication. "That's far enough away. Everybody goes on to do the apology tour. It's ironic there is Ryan Lochte on, who he started this controversy with when he started with 'Today.'"
It's also possible that a run on Dancing With the Stars could help ink Bush a new TV deal with ABC.
"It's also a way for ABC to establish a relationship with him," the source said.
Meanwhile, Lochte received backlash for appearing on Dancing With the Stars so shortly after his scandal in Rio, in which the Olympic swimmer vandalized a gas station with friends; two protesters stormed the stage after Lochte's first Dancing performance during the premiere. Lochte has since gained sympathy and has received many votes from the public, and he remains in the competition today.
"I want to thank my family, girlfriend, friends and fans for being so supportive of me after the incident on Dancing with the Stars Monday night," Lochte said in the Instagram note from the first week. "When I was asked to do the show, the one thing that I kept hearing was that it was like joining a big family. After Monday's incident, I now know what that means. I have gotten so much love from everyone on the show, including my partner Cheryl, my fellow competitors, the producers, the security team and its fans. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the show, and more than ever, I am dedicated to my new family and to working hard to do my best."
Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
