Billy Bush Still Doesn't Get It

Listen, we’re all humans here. We’re all trying to get through this thing called life. We’ve all weathered our own hardships. But some of us have had it worse—for instance, Billy Bush, according to Billy Bush.

Bush is currently on a lengthy image rebranding tour after being fired from Today for his appearance and remarks on the infamous Access Hollywood tape in which Donald Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women. As part of that tour he’s given an exclusive interview to People, in which he talks about the loss of his career, and hoo boy, he goes places (emphasis mine):

“I was ashamed and embarrassed,” Bush, 46, tells People in this week’s issue (on stands Friday) of the scandal. “And then I went through stages of grieving because I lost my career. For a man, that’s the ultimate degradation.”

For a man, that’s the ultimate degradation

For a man, that’s the ultimate degradation

For a man, that’s the ultimate degradation

For a man, that’s the ultimate degradation

I agree that losing your career is definitely hard, but using the phrase “the ultimate degradation” seems weird in light of the fact that Bush was fired for taking part in very degrading comments towards women. Also it’s weird that he gendered the loss of his job, when not only is that probably not the ultimate degradation for a man, but…losing your job sucks for women too! Also, and maybe this is nitpicking, but it seems like an unwise phrase to use in light of the society-wide conversation about the heinous degradation women (and some men) have faced at the hands of men in power. Clearly, Bush still doesn’t get it, even over a year after his downfall.

Besides, Bush’s ultimate degradation was having his ass handed to him by Al Roker while attempting to stick up for Ryan Lochte, and we all know it.