In his first interview since the leak of an “Access Hollywood” tape last fall showing Donald Trump making lewd comments about women to Billy Bush in 2005, the former “Today Show” host told the Hollywood Reporter that he regrets how he handled the interview at the time.
“I heard it for the first time seven and a half months ago, three days before the rest of the world heard it. I was shocked and alarmed and totally and completely gutted. It was awful. And my participation was awful, too,” Bush told the Hollywood Reporter. “I remember that guy, he was almost sycophantic. It was my first year as co-host of Access Hollywood, and I was an insecure person, a bit of a pleaser, wanting celebrities to like me and fit in.”
Bush said that he wished he had steered Trump toward a different topic.
“Looking back upon what was said on that bus, I wish I had changed the topic. [Trump] liked TV and competition,” he said. “I could’ve said, ‘Can you believe the ratings on whatever?’ But I didn’t have the strength of character to do it.”
The former television host said that he has done a lot of self-reflection since the Washington Post published the tape in October.
“I am not grateful for the moment,” Bush told the Hollywood Reporter. “But I’m grateful for what I’ve gotten out of it. I’m grateful that it hit me all the way to my core.”
Do you have to have had dignity in the first place to end up as a dignity wraith?
Like Tony Schwartz (“co”-author of Art of the Deal) and countless others, everyone who thinks they had even a small part to play in electing Trump is immensely regretful. Like worried-about-being-reincarnated-as-a-snail regretful.
So maybe talking out before Nov. '16 would have redeemed you. Could have countered MElania locker talk lie. She blamed Bush.
ALMOST sycophantic?
Seriously Billy?
Big mistake Billy, had you just referred to it as “locker room talk,” you would have gotten a contract from FOX before the end of the day.