Billy Bush is recalling “probably the most uncomfortable movie star scenario” he ever had, and it includes Ricky Martin.
The 53-year-old leisure host made an look on Actually! with Rob Lowe, and spoke about an interview with the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” singer across the time of his self-titled debut in 1999.
“I used to be younger and figuring out of New York the primary couple years on Entry Hollywood, East Coast correspondent. I received the decision to go down and interview Ricky Martin in Miami for his new album and Mariah Carey the night time earlier than,” he recalled.
“I do know Barbara Walters had requested him about his sexuality. I’m like, ‘Wouldn’t that be an enormous information maker?’”
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Within the lodge foyer the night time earlier than the interview, he took a casual ballot to seek out out what folks needed to know concerning the singer, they usually needed to know if he was homosexual.
When he lastly sat down for the interview, Billy requested the query and Ricky shortly eliminated his microphone.
“He will get up and he walks off the set, and I’m sitting there going, ‘Oh s—,’” he mentioned.
“I’m like, ‘OK, I actually really feel badly.’ I simply really feel badly as a result of he was legitimately harm, and I’m not within the enterprise of wounding folks. I’m within the enterprise of determining who I’m and the place I’m going. And also you want to have the ability to make errors in life. Keep in mind that folks,” he mentioned.
With out microphones, Billy went to Ricky and apologized.
“I’m like, ‘Ricky, I’m so sorry for asking that query,’” he mentioned. “‘I don’t know what I used to be pondering. It was a cowboy query. It was inappropriate. I’m so sorry. And I promise you this may by no means see the sunshine of day. I’ll smash that tape with a hammer.’”
He joked, “I ought to have smashed one other one.”
Billy mentioned Ricky advised him them that there can be a time and a spot for him to speak about his sexuality. (He got here out in 2010.) He forgave Billy and gave him a hug.
Billy mentioned he’d realized a “invaluable lesson” from the expertise: “Don’t be an a–gap. Don’t be an fool.”