Billy Bush Leaves the Today Show

Host was previously on Access Hollywood

By Lily Harrison Oct 17, 2016 11:16 PMTags
Billy BushPhoto by Joe Scarnici/WireImage

Billy Bush and the Today show are parting ways.

The host has left the hit morning show in the wake of a lewd 2005 conversation between him and Donald Trump leaked a few weeks ago. 

"Billy Bush will be leaving the Today show's 9 a.m. hour, effective today," Today show senior vice president Noah Oppenheim informed Today show staffers in a memo sent wide today and obtained by E! News. "While he was a new member of the broader Today team, he was a valued colleague and longtime member of the broader NBC family. We wish him success as he goes forward."

Bush released the following statement in the wake of today's news: "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."

The announcement comes on the heels of Bush's suspension in the wake of the lewd tape's release

"I know we've been deeply troubled by the revelations of the past 48 hours," an internal correspondence explained.

"Let me be clear—there is simply no excuse for Billy's language and behavior on that tape. NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter."

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Shortly after the leaked tapes began circulating, the father of three released the following statement to E! News apologizing for his actions.

"Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed. It's not excuse, but this happened 11 years ago—I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry."

Meanwhile, the Republican presidential candidate released both a statement and a video in the aftermath of the offensive tape's release.

"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," the Republican presidential candidate said in a formal statement.

Via video, however, Trump weighed in with a far lengthier response, saying, "I've never said I'm a perfect person, not pretended to be someone that I'm not. I've said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me, knows these words don't reflect who I am."

He added, "I said it, it was wrong and I apologize."

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