Billy Bush Was Very Sad That Matt Lauer Didn’t Leap To His Defense After The “Access Hollywood” Leak

This time four years ago, when Donald Trump was running for President, a tape of him bragging about sexual assault during a 2005 appearance on Access Hollywood was leaked. Billy Bush, who was interviewing Donald and could be heard giggling at Donald bragging about “grabbing them by the pussy,” was quickly thrown under the bus as a human sacrifice. Billy lost his job (but not his paycheck) at the TODAY show.

It was also reported that the leak of that tape might have come from inside NBC, where Billy was employed at the time. It almost felt like NBC wanted Billy gone or something, which really makes you wonder: Is Al Roker the Tony Soprano of the TODAY show? At the very least, Billy believes he had one friend in high places who could have saved him. But that “friend” didn’t and that person was Matt Lauer.

Billy spoke with Men’s Health about the now 4-year-old messy, embarrassing situation that didn’t exactly kill his career (his marriage was the only real casualty). Billy says that after the tape was released, he was fully ready to go on air and apologize to the world for engaging in such a stupid conversation. At the time, Matt Lauer was in charge of the TODAY show, and he could have made Billy’s public apology happen. But…he didn’t. via Page Six:

Billy Bush felt betrayed by Matt Lauer when Bush was fired by NBC in 2016 – after which he spent months drinking heavily, too “paralyzed” to get off his couch and unable to stop crying. Bush recalls being axed from the TODAY show after just two months on the job for his role in the infamous Access Hollywood outtake with Donald Trump from 11 years earlier.

After the tape circulated, Bush was ready to apologize on-air and believed he had Lauer’s support. Bush now says of his then-co-anchor, “That he didn’t fight for me is so deeply hurtful because I’ve known him for absolutely ever.”

Billy adds that he found out NBC had suspended him in the most heartbreaking way a famous TV host could learn they were let go. Billy was on his way back to New York, and when he tried to get into the car that was to drive him to the airport, the driver said these haunting words that I’m sure Billy will never forget:

“Sorry, Mr. Bush. They just canceled the car.”

So, what – Billy was just supposed to call his own car? And pay for it himself?? That’s just…that’s shameful. Matt Lauer, you have blood on your hands. Speaking of Matt, Page Six says that Men’s Health reached out to Matt for his side of the story, but he never got back to them.

All in all, Billy reiterates what he’s said previously, which was that the whole thing was a learning experience that he’s grown from, and he’s a better person because of it, and all that. Okay but if he’s learned so much since then, then why is he still a little salty about Matt not swooping in to rescue him?  Matt Lauer turned out to be a MASSIVE CREEP. If anything, Billy should be clasping his hands together and thanking whoever is in charge up there for not getting the Matt Lauer stamp-of-approval. Literally the only thing that could have aged worse than Billy’s contribution to that leaked clip would be the words, “I, Matt Lauer, think Billy is great, and definitely not a secret sex creep. In fact, I see a lot of myself in Billy.”

Pics: Wenn.com