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Donald Trump prepares for an appearance on Days of Our Lives in 2005 with actress Arianne Zucker, accompanied by Access Hollywood host Billy Bush. Photo: Obtained by The Washington Post
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Billy Bush, whose vulgar banter with Trump triggered campaign scandal, is leaving the ‘Today’ show

US election: Trump v Clinton
Associated Press
Associated Press
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US TV host Billy Bush will not be returning to the Today show.

Bush, 44, who was suspended indefinitely Sunday after he was heard in a leaked 2005 video engaging in lewd, sexist conversation with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, is in negotiations to exit NBC News, according to people familiar with the discussions.

An NBC News representative declined to comment.

In the tape, made while Bush was co-host of NBC’s syndicated news magazine Access Hollywood, Trump obscenely boasts about his ability to grope women with impunity because he is a celebrity. Bush is heard chuckling and encouraging Trump even as the reality show star crudely talked about how he tried to have sex with then Access co-host Nancy O’Dell, and boasted of grabbing women by the genitals.
Billy Bush, nephew of ex-president George H.W. Bush and cousin of George W. Bush, said he was embarrassed and ashamed by a 2005 conversation he had with Donald Trump in which Trump made lewd comments about women. Photo: AP

Bush, 44, issued an apology for his behaviour, saying he was “younger, less mature and acted foolishly in playing along.”

Some female producers and personalities who work on the show have made it known that they do not want to work with Bush, according to one person close to the programme who is not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and requested anonymity.

There was also an outcry on social media from female Today fans, many of whom threatened to boycott the show if he returned.

NBC News said Bush was off the air pending “further review.” The company was said to be looking into his past behavioir as an NBC employee. Bush is the nephew of former President George H.W. Bush and the cousin of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

The decision to remove Bush happened swiftly, demonstrating an effort to get past the controversy that broke when the tape was revealed by The Washington Post last Friday.

Bush only joined NBC News in August as co-host of the 9am hour of Today with Al Roker and Tamron Hall.

He got off to a rough start during NBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games in Rio. Bush had the first interview with Ryan Lochte after the gold medal-winning swimmer and three of his US teammates falsely claimed they were robbed at gunpoint. Lochte perpetuated his story during the interview with Bush.

After it was determined that Lochte was lying, Bush tried to excuse the swimmer’s actions, which prompted co-host Al Roker to chastise him on the air. The exchange went viral.

But that was nothing compared to the reaction to the foul-mouthed bus ride conversation with Trump, which appears to have brought an abrupt end to Bush’s morning-show ambitions.

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