“Grab ‘em by the pu**y!” Who could forget the now infamous quote by President Donald Trump?
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Ahead of the 2016 presidential election, a 2005 Access Hollywood videotape was leaked by The Washington Post, where the then-Apprentice Host and at the time of the release then-presidential candidate bragged about how his fame allows him to grope women.
At the time there was outrage amongst women and while Donald went on to become the 45th President of the United States, TV host
Billy Bush who was rising in the ranks at
NBC was abruptly fired.Now the former Today show star is speaking out and in an interview with People Magazine Billy said of the scandal: “I was ashamed and embarrassed.”
“I was a happy-go-lucky guy. Everything is going great and I was like, ‘Hey, this is awesome!’ And then, kaboom.”
Following his firing,
Billy and his wife of nearly two decades separated. The year was compounded with devastation after devastation, but the former Entertainment journalist has since taken responsibility for his role in the scandal and his spirits are high.
“I have done so much self-help work,” the father-of-three said. “There is a term for what I did. It’s called bystander abuse. It says by not doing anything you are endorsing the moment. I have to live with that.”
“I had some growing up to do anyway in life,” he says. “I did so much exploring and figuring out. I’m a deeper person. And I’m happy about using my knowledge for a good purpose,” Billy, who is the first cousin of former President George W. Bush went on to say.
And now the former host is focusing on refurbished business venture—Beach Whiskey, the spirits company he co-founded two years ago, and one of its brands, American Harvest vodka.
“I have a plan to make this mess my message,” Billy said. “I know I’m coming out with a purpose. And I want to use what I know to help other people.”
