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Billy Bush branded a ‘snake’ and an ‘a**hole’ for nearly outing legendary gay pop star

BBG News

Billy Bush has faced significant criticism, almost revealing Ricky Martin’s sexuality years before the pop icon publicly acknowledged it.

From 1999, when Ricky became a global sensation with Livin’ La Vida Loca, to 2010, when he openly declared his sexuality, there was much talk and curiosity about the nature of Ricky’s romantic life, driven by his vibrant stage character.

Around the turn of the millennium, Billy, a cousin of the sitting U.S. President George W. Bush, was a driven and aspiring journalist working for Access Hollywood. He managed to secure an interview with Ricky during this period.

On the eve prior to the recording, Billy inquired from a group of ladies in a hotel lounge about their curiosity regarding the singer. They all inquired: ‘Is he homosexual?’

However, when Billy posed his query to Ricky the following day, he received a fiery response. His interlocutor, enraged, hurled an expletive at him, snatched away his microphone, and abruptly ended the interview by walking off the stage in the heat of the moment.

Currently, Billy, who is 53 years old, shared a story on Literally! with Rob Lowe, yet he did so apologetically. However, his tale, though accompanied by an apology, sparked anger among some social media users due to its perceived lack of tact.

1. One person on Facebook commented, ‘Billy Bush is a jerk,’ while another vented, ‘Billy Bush is like a Bush (implying he’s sly or deceitful).’

2. A Facebook user wrote, ‘Billy Bush is a real [expletive],’ and another reacted, ‘[Implying Billy Bush is unscrupulous] – Billy Bush is like a Bush.’

3. One comment on Facebook read ‘Billy Bush is a lousy person,’ while another exclaimed, ‘Billy Bush acts just like a Bush (suggesting he’s cunning or shady).’

I recently came across a post from another social media user that seemed like a subtle nod towards Billy and the infamous hot mic tape where he was heard talking with Donald Trump. In this conversation, Donald boasted about making inappropriate advances on women due to his celebrity status, saying things like, “You can do anything to women when you’re a star.”

I find it important to address these types of issues and remind everyone that such behavior is unacceptable and harmful.

A Facebook user humorously remarked, ‘It appears Billy Bush is quite intrigued by everyone’s intimate affairs.’ Perhaps he’s lacking such experiences himself.

Others had a more laid-back perspective on the situation, as illustrated by an individual who humorously commented: ‘I wonder if he mentioned he’s straight? That would be the only surprising reveal here,’ or another person on Facebook who chuckled: ‘He should have been called a kiss-ass.’

When Billy encountered Ricky, he had previously undergone a challenging conversation with Barbara Walters. During this discussion, she probed him intensely regarding speculations about his sexuality, which led to an awkward interaction. Later on, she expressed regret over the encounter, and Billy himself termed it as having left a lasting impact, similar to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Billy, an eager and aspiring TV figure, felt a strong desire to explore the topic of Ricky’s sexual identity, being intrigued by it as a potential newsworthy matter.

The evening prior to his scheduled interview, Billy posed a question to some fellow guests at his Miami hotel lounge: “Good evening, ladies! I’ll be interviewing Ricky Martin tomorrow. Can I ask what questions you might have for him?

All of them asked: ‘Is he homosexual?’, which made Billy feel as though everyone viewing the interview was questioning the same thing.

Well…I guess we’ll see…

During the conversation, Billy inquired if Ricky was aware that he had posed a question to eight individuals at a lounge bar the previous evening regarding themselves. Remarkably, everyone mentioned the exact same topic.

Ricky tensed up noticeably, responding sharply with a question: “Pardon me, but did someone ask if you were… homosexual?” And Billy, gathering his nerve, followed up with: “That was the gist of their inquiry.

Ricky reportedly exploded in anger, throwing aside the microphone. “You couldn’t care less about me,” he snapped at you. “All you want is a sensational headline for yourself. What gives you the right?” he added, clearly upset and disrespectful.

Ricky angrily removed his microphone, shouting, “You don’t give a damn about me!” He accused you of only caring about getting a headline. “Who do you think you are?” he demanded, expressing frustration and disdain.

Ricky stormed off the set, leaving Billy bewildered, questioning: ‘What on earth transpired?’, as his producer fretted: ‘This is disastrous.’

In just three minutes, his phone was swamped with calls from LA, as the show’s managers scolded him harshly due to his mishandling of the interview.

Billy reminisced about feeling quite regretful over how the conversation had transpired since Ricky appeared genuinely wounded, and Billy made it clear that he isn’t there to cause harm. Instead, he’s on a journey of self-discovery, learning more about himself and his future path. He also reminded the podcast audience that life is about making mistakes and learning from them.

To make amends, Billy spoke with Ricky not long after that for a personal talk, expressing regret for how he managed the interview.

Billy expressed his apologies to Ricky, admitting he regretted asking the question. He acknowledged it seemed out of place and was not suitable for discussion. He assured Ricky that he deeply regrets his actions and promises never to bring up the topic again. Furthermore, he made a promise to destroy any record or trace of the conversation forever.

At that moment, Ricky addressed Ricky by saying: ‘I’ve been battling with this issue throughout my entire life. There will come a time, there will be a place. It won’t happen during this program while I’m promoting this album. This matter is extremely personal to me. Thank you for being here again. I forgive you, and yes, please go ahead and delete that recording.’

Two years after our heartfelt goodbye, I found myself eagerly awaiting another encounter with my idol. As fate would have it, we crossed paths once more, and the moment called for nothing less than a warm embrace. It was as if time had stood still, the gap bridged, and a genuine reconciliation echoed in that tender moment of reunion.

Billy conveyed on Rob Lowe’s podcast that he had gained a significant insight that day: ‘Always treat others with respect and don’t make reckless decisions. This industry requires sensitivity, understanding people, and knowing your limits.’

Ricky publicly announced in 2010 that he is gay, stating: “Giving in to fear and insecurity led me to a self-destructive pattern. Today, I own up to my choices and actions.

Responding to recent events, Billy shared a shortened account of the unfortunate interview incident on Access Hollywood and issued a public apology for his inappropriate query.

During the broadcast, Billy admitted, “I was really upset. In all honesty, I allowed my drive to succeed to eclipse my empathy and discernment. I pressed for a bold inquiry, not realizing it would hurt Ricky’s most tender emotions.

As an over-the-moon fan, I can’t help but notice the friendly vibes between Ricky and Billy during their recent interview at the Emmy Awards in September. The way Ricky beamed while chatting with Billy for Extra on the red carpet was just delightful!

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2025-07-10 22:34

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