Sounds like Billy Bush is ready to be back in the spotlight!
In a Wednesday interview, the former Today cohost sat down with Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts to speak ALL about that leaked Donald Trump tape.
Going off his chat with The Hollywood Reporter, the 45-year-old confessed “the irony is glaring,” as he references his firing and Trump’s victory in the presidential election following the release of the clip.
Related: Billy Apologizes To Nancy O’Dell Over That Tape
Still, Bush isn’t ignorant to why there was such a strong reaction, he explains in his first TV interview:
“Based upon the moment that is on that tape, I understand people’s reaction. I agree. I also felt that way. We live in a visual and digital age, so we get this video, this moment, and we react emotionally to it.”
He also acknowledges his part in the controversial chat:
“I definitely added to the conversation by you know, I was keeping the ball in the air. With Trump, it’s not much of a give-and-take. When he said what he said at the end … to me, it was more braggadocio ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ his word ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ and performance. If I had ever thought, I like to think, that there was a grown man sitting in front of me detailing his sexual assault strategy, I would have called the FBI.”
And Billy will have you know, he has NOT been in touch with Drumpf since the tape went viral!
“There was no relationship there. It was … work related. And I interviewed him multiple times, especially back then. He never reached out … and I didn’t reach out.”
The former Access Hollywood host also says at the time of his talk with Trump, he reported their conversation as soon as it happened:
“I said, ├óΓé¼╦£You wouldn’t believe the things that [Donald] Trump was saying off camera. When I was recounting what happened, I said, ├óΓé¼╦£When the camera left, this is what the conversation was,’ and they told me days later, ├óΓé¼╦£Well, that was on. The camera was rolling. There’s audio of all that.’ I never thought about it again. I just went on.”
It was “inconsequential” then:
“He wasn’t running for president. He was, at the time, the biggest star on television.”
The TV personality describes his former self as “pleaser” too:
“I remember the guy on the other side … Twelve years ago, it was my first year as co-host of the show. I was insecure … I was a pleaser. I kind of remember wanting these celebrities to like me, so that I could keep going … in this job.”
At least he maintains he did wrong:
“I should have known better, absolutely. There’s no question about that.”
Although, he explains:
“People also say, ‘You should have stopped it.’ I didn’t have the strength of character at the time to do that. I wish I did.”
If you want to hear more from Bush, especially about his future plans, watch his interview with Robin (below)!
[Image via Winston Burris/Johnny Louis/WENN.]
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