Donald Trump has been receiving backlash since the video tape of him speaking of women in sexual vulgar terms was released by The Washington Post. The video captures Trump speaking to Access Hollywood's Billy Bush — now a host of NBC's "Today" Show and another unidentified man. Trump has been accused of belittling women before, but what about Billy Bush?
Billy Bush was off the air today and is indefinitely suspended while NBC further reviews the situation. Bush issued an apology, "Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed. It's no excuse, but this happened eleven years ago—I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry," Bush said in a statement obtained by E! News.
But the pending question is, "Should Billy Bush be allowed to return to work at NBC?"
The Washington Post reported that NBC had knowledge of the video tape, but was waiting for lawyers to review it before releasing it to the public. NBC has been getting a lot of heat lately for not challenging the candidates on any of their programs including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Matt Lauer moderating the Commander-in-Chief forum. This incident does nothing to help NBC recover from the last few months and keeping Bush on their network would not help them recover in the future.
So the answer is no. Billy Bush SHOULD NOT be allowed to return to work at NBC.
Trump and Bush's conversation is what perpetuates rape culture. What Donald Trump states in the 2005 video describes a sexual assault, "Grab them by the p*ssy. You can do anything." Although Trump did most of the talking, Bush participated in the 'locker room banter'. The scene is way too familiar. All men participating in these types of conversations without discouraging it perpetuate rape culture. Women are unsafe in a world where these conversations continue to happen. We shouldn't have to question our safety while walking alone at night, we shouldn't worry that our clothes are too revealing. I instinctively lower my gaze when passing a man I don't know because I am afraid. It's because of men like Donald Trump, who talks about raping women; and Billy Bush who sits idly by participating in the conversation.
Allowing Billy Bush to continue his career at NBC would be detrimental to women all around the world. It shows men that talking of women in sexually vulgar terms is appropriate and comes with no consequences. It shows women that they are unsafe in this world. Rape culture is why men like Anthony Scaramucci defend Donald Trump and his actions. Rape culture is why Brock Turner only spent three months in jail. Rape culture is why your classmate made the joke, "I got raped by that test." These men are trying to make excuses on why this behavior is acceptable in our world. News flash — its not. The world is full of men who would never talk of or to women in such vulgar terms and stand up to men like Trump, Scaramucci and Bush.
Apparently, the video tape being released is a distraction to the important issues happening today. Apparently, women being sexually harassed and raped isn't an important issue in today's society. Apparently, the continuing normalization of aggression towards women is what this country's future could hold.
Billy Bush shouldn't be suspended from NBC — he should be fired.
