Billy Bush has been suspended from NBC's Today show pending a review, according to the executive who oversees the morning-news franchise.
"Let me be clear - there is simply no excuse for Billy's language and behaviour on that tape," said Noah Oppenheim, the NBC News senior vice president who oversees Today, in a memo to staffers.
He was referring to a 2005 Access Hollywood outtake that recently surfaced showing Bush and Donald Trump discussing sexual harassment of women in extremely lewd terms.
The decision marks the latest contretemps to mar Bush's short tenure at the show. Indeed, there is speculation within NBC News that the anchor will not return to the program. One person familiar with the situation suggested NBC News was in the process of determining whether it might end Bush's contract.
NBC News declined to comment.
Bush was brought aboard Today to lend a different tone to the 9am hour of the show, which competes directly in many markets with the popular syndicated program Live, featuring Kelly Ripa.
Since joining the program during the Summer Olympics, however, Bush has stumbled noticeably. An interview he had with swimmer Ryan Lochte turned out to have been filled with misinformation, and he was chastised on air by fellow anchor Roker in a segment that gained a lot of digital pass-around.
