Billy Bush Issues Apology After Audio of Lewd Conversation With Donald Trump Leaks

"I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along," the Today co-host states

Billy Bush is on damage control following today's shocking audio leak.

The former Access Hollywood co-host, and now Today Show co-host, released a statement to apologize for his lewd conversation with Donald Trump, which was leaked earlier today.

"Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed. It's no excuse, but this happened eleven years ago—I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry," Bush says in a statement obtained by E! News.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Access Hollywood tells E! News, "As we reported in our story this evening, 'Access Hollywood' has interviewed Donald Trump literally hundreds of times over 20 years. With Mr. Trump's nomination as presidential candidate, 'Access Hollywood' reviewed its extensive library footage and discovered these comments."

The Washington Post obtained the footage from 2005, which includes audio of Bush and the Republican presidential nominee using extremely vulgar language while discussing women while riding on an Access Hollywood bus to the set of Days of Our Lives.

Trump, who along with Bush didn't realize their mics were still hot, is overheard telling him and several others about a failed attempt to seduce an unnamed woman, saying, "I moved on her and I failed. I'll admit it. I did try and f--k her. She was married."

He continued, "And I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said, ‘I'll show you where they have some nice furniture.'"

The presidential candidate then told the group, "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."

A voice that sounds like Bush's then says, "Whatever you want." Trump replies, "Grab them by the p---y, you can do anything."

Trump released a statement soon after the audio was posted.

"This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course—not even close. I apologize if anyone was offended."

(E! and NBC are both part of the same NBCUniversal family.)