Billy Bush on his NBC firing: "Suicidal thoughts pop into your head"

The Daily Beast

Bush tells The Daily Beast that he fell into despair following his October 2016 Access Hollywood Trump tape scandal that led to his ouster from NBC. He says he even had suicidal thoughts. “I’d never seriously do it—because I have children that matter," says Bush, who returns to TV thiis month as host of Extra Extra. "But when you’re really low—and this is important to include—you’re emoting at the most extremes. But I’m never ever a serious candidate for that. I would not, could not do that to those who count on me and love me and need me. Absolutely not. But you think, ‘Oh, I would do it!’ No, no you won’t. But you’re upset. Look, everybody has something. Everybody has something that is really, really deeply upsetting. And if you haven’t, you will. That’s for sure. And I may have something again. I hope I’m conditioned to take a deep breath, acknowledge the feelings, and know that they’re not here to stay." Because of his experiences, Bush adds that he feels empathy for Al Franken, whom he thinks was "sacrificed" following the former U.S. senator's sexual harassment scandal.