An NBC News spokesperson confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that Bush will not be at work Monday on the NBC show’s 9 a.m. hour. The decision comes after a weekend in which audio of him exchanging sexist remarks with Trump ran in heavy rotation on cable news.
“Today” 9 a.m. co-host Al Roker, who was scheduled to be off for the week due to a medical issue, is now coming in for Monday’s program.
How long the break will be remains an open question. “Today” staffers are hearing he could be off for a week — or not return at all.
NBC News executives said Saturday that there are no plans to suspend or fire Bush over the leaked conversation that took place before he and Trump taped a 2005 segment for “Access Hollywood.”
But the situation now appears to be fluid.
The exchange, in which Trump profanely boasts about his ability to grope women with impunity because he is a celebrity, has led many Republican politicians to withdraw their support of him as the party’s presidential standard-bearer. Many called for him to step down. Trump issued a videotaped apology late Friday night for the remarks and has said he has no plans to drop out of the race. He meets Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in their second debate on Sunday night.
In the leaked video Bush is heard laughing and egging Trump on, even as the mogul revealed his attempt to seduce Bush’s “Access Hollywood” co-host Nancy O’Dell. He delivered his own apology Friday.
"Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed,” Bush, 44, said in a statement issued by NBC News. “It's no excuse, but this happened eleven years ago — I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry.”
But as the story continues to the engulf the campaign, Bush is now indelibly attached to it. On ABC’s “This Week,” Republican Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania referred to the tape as “the Billy Bush video.”
Bush’s involvement could prove a long-term problem as morning show audiences are not always forgiving. Harsh comments from “Today” fans appeared on the program’s Facebook page, many calling for his firing.
“They will no longer receive my ratings or buying power when they have this guy as a host,” wrote Elizabeth Fahy of Cranford, N.J. “He is disgracing the women and daughters he wants to watch him. Count me out for now, ‘Today,’ until Billy Bush is gone as a host.”
After 12 years as co-host of “Access,” Bush moved his family from Los Angeles to New York City to join “Today” in August. He is a co-host for the program’s third hour with Roker and Tamron Hall.
Bush’s arrival led to speculation that he is being groomed to eventually succeed long-time “Today” stalwart Matt Lauer, who has been in the 7 to 9 a.m. co-anchor chair since 1997.
Bush’s misogynistic repartee with Trump will likely be a major setback in attaining that goal.
NBC News executives were not overly concerned about Bush’s presence on the tape with Trump when it was first reported by the Washington Post on Friday. But the story escalated Saturday, sending “Today” staffers looking for answers on Bush’s status and how the controversy will be addressed on the program.
Reaction to Bush’s vulgar comments cannot be taken lightly as “Today” has had issues with female viewers in the past.
After Ann Curry tearfully left the show after 13 months as co-anchor, many press accounts portrayed Lauer as being behind her ouster. The narrative led many viewers to tune out, ending the “Today’s” 16-year reign as the most watched morning program.
One talent agent who spoke on the condition of anonymity said it would have been difficult for NBC News to dismiss or suspend Bush for something he said 11 years ago. The only option would have been to buy out his recently signed multi-million dollar contract.
A dismissal or suspension would have also risked opening the door to scrutiny of sexist remarks or behavior of other NBC News employees over the years.
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