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Billy Bush Officially Leaves 'Today' Show

His move came after years-old audio emerged of Bush joking with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump about women.

Published Oct. 17, 2016

 (TVGuide.com)
Image Via TVGuide.com

After several days of negotiations, "Today" show host Billy Bush is officially gone from NBC.

Bush never returned to his job after 7 October 2016. He was placed on leave after 2005 audio surfaced of him snickering and encouraging Donald Trump, who at the time was making a cameo on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" (Bush was a host of "Access Hollywood" at the time):

Trump: Yeah, that’s her. With the gold. I better use some Tic Tacs just in case I start kissing her. You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

Bush: Whatever you want.

Trump: Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.

Bush: Uh, yeah, those legs, all I can see is the legs.

Trump: Oh, it looks good.

Bush: Come on shorty.

Trump: Ooh, nice legs, huh?

Bush: Oof, get out of the way, honey. Oh, that’s good legs. Go ahead.

In a statement, Bush said:

I am deeply grateful for the conversations I’ve had with my daughters, and for all of the support from family, friends and colleagues. I look forward to what lies ahead.

NBC's senior vice president, Noah Oppenheim, wrote in an internal memo that Bush would be leaving effective immediately:

In his memo Monday, Oppenheim wrote of Bush: "While he was a new member of the TODAY team, he was a valued colleague and longtime member of the broader NBC family. We wish him success as he goes forward."

Bush apologized in a personal statement after the video surfaced, saying that he was "embarrassed and ashamed" and that although the incident happened 11 years ago, "that's no excuse."

Bush had just begun a three-year contract, and was reportedly making about $3 million a year.  

Brooke Binkowski is a former editor for Snopes.