A funny thing happened during the weekly “Friday afternoon news dump” today, as video and audio from a 2005 Access Hollywood interview with Donald Trump revealed what the Republican nominee later passed off as “locker room banter.” And by “locker room banter,” what the Donald actually means is he and anchor Billy Bush discussed things like: Trump’s “failed” attempt to “[move] on” a married woman, Bush saying his “girl is hot as sh*t,” and Trump responding “grab them by the p*ssy.” So yeah, a normal Friday news dump by all accounts.
Page Six spoke with an NBC News insider, who reveals that Bush is “horribly embarrassed” by the footage. Further, the insider reveals that Bush is in “a different place now” and is not at risk for losing his Today gig. However, the internet wasn’t especially pleased with either Trump or Bush, though considering the former’s pending child rape case, it seems no scandal of any kind can phase the White House hopeful. Bush, on the other hand, quickly caved in to the pressure and deleted his Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/BobHagh/status/784495911250436097
Unfortunately for the lone Bush family member capable of destroying Trump, the internet never forgets. (Just ask pharma douche Martin Shkreli, or his pals Patton Oswalt and Chris Evans.) Even now, “Billy Bush” is still a hot trending topic on Twitter, where all of social media’s real and would-be comedians have come to offer their detailed and intelligent thoughts on the matter.
UPDATE: Billy Bush has issued an apology.
Statement from Billy Bush pic.twitter.com/jUIXTZyENR
— Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) October 7, 2016
Most were, understandably, mad:
https://twitter.com/katespencer/status/784494830307057666
https://twitter.com/kellyoxford/status/784498343212781568
BTW collateral damage here: not that I took Billy Bush seriously before, but how does NBC News now rationalize employing him?
— Keith Olbermann⌚️ (@KeithOlbermann) October 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/jennyslate/status/784514041750388737
https://twitter.com/feministabulous/status/784508923944529920
Yet a few bright and shining stars managed to find some levity in the situation:
https://twitter.com/OutstandingWC/status/784498960350281733
All I'm saying is if Billy Bush deleted his Twitter maybe Trump really is making America great again.
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 7, 2016
So Billy Bush is finished right? Like we know Trump will survive this but Billy Bush is totally finished
— Christina Warren (@film_girl) October 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/quinncy/status/784509594257154048
https://twitter.com/jwoliner/status/784514522308489216
trump: you can grab women anywhere
billy bush: totally
trump: take their skins if you want
bush: ha ha
trump: eat them
bush: ha oh you— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) October 7, 2016
You know those rancid rape culture comments made by Trump in 2005? To Billy Bush? Mike Pence wants you to know Trump never said them.
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 7, 2016
Maybe #DonaldTrump can use the mic from the "Billy Bush" interview at the next debate. Seems like it was working pretty well. #CrazyMan
— Jeremy Yattoh (@sirjero) October 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/feministabulous/status/784506660228325380
What was that again, @realDonaldTrump? pic.twitter.com/AXWWqnc4Ls
— Keith Olbermann⌚️ (@KeithOlbermann) October 7, 2016
(Via Page Six)