Billy Bush reportedly negotiating exit from NBC after lewd Donald Trump hot-mic banter

(Image credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles)

published 12 October 2016

Five days after he appeared in an infamous leaked video with Donald Trump, Billy Bush is negotiating his departure from NBC, The Washington Post and The New York Times report. Trump does most of the talking in the 2005 footage, but Bush laughs when Trump talks about an unsuccessful attempt to seduce Bush's married Access Hollywood co-host Nancy O'Dell and goads Trump on as he talks about forcing himself on women. NBC suspended Bush on Sunday from his months-old job co-anchoring the 9 a.m. hour of the Today show, and by Tuesday, Bush no longer appeared on Today's digital billboards at 30 Rockefeller Center.

Bush apologized on Friday, but if he had returned, former Today social media editor Anthony Quintano tweeted, the show was "going to have a real problem booking female guests." Today is in a hard-fought ratings war with ABC's Good Morning America. Billy Bush is a cousin of George W. and Jeb Bush.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.