‘We went through it’: Billy Bush recalls how big celeb interview in Miami went south
Of all the celebrities Billy Bush has interviewed over the years, one “uncomfortable situation” stands out. And it’s not regarding the person you may think, Donald Trump, he told Rob Lowe on his “Literally” podcast on July 10.
The TV personality was infamously fired from “Today” in 2016 after audio resurfaced of him laughing with the then “Apprentice” star, who made sexually charged comments on a bus more than a decade before.
Despite Bush’s career being thrown into turmoil after the scandal, he told Lowe one of his most awkward interviews wasn’t with the leader of the free world, but with Latin pop icon Ricky Martin.
Though he didn’t specify the year, he said around the 36-minute mark he was working in the early aughts on “Access Hollywood” as East Coast correspondent. He was assigned to fly to Miami to talk to the heartthrob who was still basking in his 1999 hit “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” about a new album.
The night before, Bush told Lowe he asked a bunch of women in his hotel bar the question they would want posed to the former Menudo singer. The consensus: Was the rumor true that Martin was gay.
After consulting with his producer, Bush decided to go for it.
“Bush, man,” Lowe said, disappointed. “Bush, man.”
“Don’t scold me,” Bush answered, recounting that when he asked Martin about his sexuality, he immediately tensed up.
Bush said Martin cursed him out, telling him he was “a piece of garbage” for trying to make headlines after Barbara Walters had already tried to get the hot tea (unsuccessfully) in 2000.
Bush then revealed that Martin ripped off his microphone and stormed off the set, and he felt terrible.
“He was legitimately hurt, and I’m not in the business of hurting people,” said the native New Yorker who then went to Martin’s dressing room and apologized for the “inappropriate” question.
“I’m like, ‘Ricky, I am so sorry for asking that question. I don’t know what I was thinking.’ It was a cowboy question,” said Bush, who had that part of the footage destroyed.
Martin apparently responded in a thoughtful way, telling Bush that despite “struggling” with his sexuality his whole life, he didn’t feel comfortable coming out while promoting a project.
“We went through it,” said the TV personality. “I learned a valuable lesson that day: Don’t be an a--hole, don’t be an idiot.”
Martin, now a single father to three, eventually came out on his website in March 2010.
“I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man,” the native Puerto Rican wrote. “I am very blessed to be who I am.”
As for Bush, he was in the crosshairs for many years over the Trump hot mic fallout, ultimately landing back in the spotlight on “Extra” for five years until May.
The divorced father of three is now devoting his time to interviewing headline makers for his “Hot Mics” podcast.
Through his reps, Bush cited the reason for moving on was that he was “hungrier and more stimulated” than at any point in his professional career.
“It’s now time to build something of my own,” the statement said. “I’m forever grateful to the amazing staff at ‘Extra’ and the executives at Warner Bros. for this awesome chapter of my life. I mean every word of that. I have had a tremendous run.”
