Billy Bush, a host on NBC's Today show who appeared in the video that leaked Friday featuring Donald Trump making lewd comments about women, has been suspended by the network, The New York Times reports.
In a memo to staffers sent out Sunday, NBC executive Noah Oppenheim wrote they have all been "deeply troubled by the revelations of the past 48 hours," and there is "no excuse for Billy's language and behavior on that tape. NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter." In 2005, when the tape was recorded, Bush was a host of Access Hollywood, and accompanying Trump on a bus to the Days of Our Lives set. He laughed along as Trump talked about forcing himself on women and using his celebrity status to "do anything," and added his own commentary on actress Arianne Zucker and her physical appearance.
Earlier in the weekend, NBC executives said they did not plan to discipline Bush, and he was expected to discuss the tape on Monday's show. On Friday, Bush released a statement saying he was "embarrassed and ashamed" of the incident, which "happened 11 years ago — I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along."
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