Billy Bush has been caught making another controversially crude remark, six years after his first hot moment scandal with former President Donald Trump.
The “Extra” host, 51, can be heard in audio obtained by the Daily Beast on Friday joking on set of the entertainment news show about Kendall Jenner’s “Toy Story”-inspired Halloween costume.
“Kendall goes as Jessie and, believe me, there were a lot of woodies,” Bush says during the Oct. 31 taping, making a quip that references the Pixar film’s lead character, Woody.
The remark elicited a lot of laughter from others in the room, which according to the Daily Beast, were producers.
It is unclear who released the audio, but Page Six was told the leak was “unauthorized.”
A spokesperson for Telepictures, the show’s production company, explains to us, “As with many forms of production in the entertainment industry, the show’s creative process allows the flexibility to try different jokes and banter.
“In the end, some material lands on the cutting room floor, including remarks that may be too edgy to air on broadcast television.”
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A lawsuit widely known in Hollywood as the “Friends” case aims to protect creatives’ use of free speech throughout their collaboration process, which is what was taking place when Bush made the comment about Jenner, 27.
A source adds exclusively to Page Six, “There was no malicious intent on Bush’s part as he was working through material in the show’s normal creative process.”
Jenner’s rep did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
Ultimately, Bush’s remark about the “Kardashians” star did not make the air, and instead the broadcaster said in the segment on “Extra,” “It’s going to be hard to see ‘Toy Story’ the same way ever again. Kendall saddled up as the redheaded cowgirl Jessie, complete with a crop top, chaps and denim shorts.”
Bush’s latest controversial, off-camera joke comes just as he had begun to repair his image following another leaked tape from 2005.
In that audio, the entertainment news host chatted along with Trump, 76, while on the set of “Access Hollywood,” telling the real estate mogul that his “Days of Our Lives” co-star Arianne Zucker was “hot as sh–!
“Yes! The Donald has scored!” Bush added. “Whoa, my man. You gotta look at her… Give her the thumbs-up. You gotta give the thumbs-up… Oh my God!”
Trump, who was best known at the time for hosting “Celebrity Apprentice,” then said he could do anything to women in Hollywood, even “grab ’em by the p—y.”
Bush immediately expressed his remorse once the tape came out in 2016.
“Looking back on what was said on that bus, I wish I had changed the topic,” the radio host previously told the Hollywood Reporter.
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“I wish I had said: ‘Does anyone want water?’ or ‘It looks like it’s gonna rain.’ He liked TV and competition. I could’ve said, ‘Can you believe the ratings on whatever?’ I didn’t have the strength of character to do it.”
Following that scandal, Bush was ousted from his job on “Today” and was unable to make a TV comeback until “Extra” gave him another chance in May 2019.
“We all have to be able to evolve as we grow,” Bush told People at the time, following the announcement of his new gig.
“The guy that left the scene in 2016 was already a changed person [since 2005], but I had the opportunity to grow up a little bit. Facing adversity in some way is good. And I feel I’ll be better at my job than I ever was. This is my next step.”