The woman at the center of the now-infamous leaked tape of Donald Trump bragging about groping women gave her first interview about the recording on Thursday, saying the “offensive” comments were not surprising given Trump’s personality.
Arianne Zucker, a member of the “Days of our Lives” cast, told “Today” correspondent Janet Shamlian that when she first heard Trump’s comments she was offended not only for herself, but for women in general.
“They are offensive comments for women, period,” she said.
The comments were caught on a hot mic recording right before Trump met up with Zucker to do a 2005 “Access Hollywood” segment about Trump’s guest spot on the soap opera. Trump tells host Billy Bush that he’s eating Tic Tacs in case he “just started kissing her,” and then Bush comments on Zucker’s legs and calls her “hot as shit,” saying that “the Donald has scored” in regards to her appearance.
Zucker told “Today” that working in the entertainment industry and knowing how Trump acts, she was not entirely shocked to hear those words.
“Not with that type of personality,” she said. “I wasn’t shocked. Which is probably why it doesn’t mean a lot to me.”
When asked if she accepted Trump’s apology, she called it “interesting.”
Zucker said that she hopes the backlash from the comments can serve as a learning experience and that she’s ready to move on.
“I think young men can learn from this how not to be in front of women or when they’re speaking about women,” she said.
“I’m ready to use it in a proper way,” she added. “I’m ready to use it for positivity. I’m ready to use it for women to step forward and to do good things in my life and for other people.”
Zucker said she will vote, but did not say how she planned to cast her ballot. She noted that she has not heard from Trump or his campaign since the release of the hot mic recording, either.
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