Billy Bush says Al Roker was “mean” and “territorial” during his short stint on NBC’s “Today,” alleging jealousy, online backlash, and an unwelcoming atmosphere.
Billy Bush’s time on “Today” lasted just months, but the feelings he says he left the studio with are still sharp.
Billy, 54, joined NBC’s morning show in May 2016 as a co-host for the third hour alongside Al Roker, who is 71. His run ended in October, after a video surfaced showing a lewd conversation Billy had with now-President Donald Trump in a hot mic moment.
Now, looking back on what it was like working with Roker, Billy paints a picture of tension rather than teamwork. During a recent appearance on “The Nerve” with Maureen Callahan, Billy claimed that Roker was “mean” and “territorial.”
“There’s something about me in particular, forever, that was like [he] likes me but fears me, didn’t want me anywhere near,” Billy said. “The way I describe Al is three words: territorial, vindictive, and chronically unprepared.”
Billy said he took the job seriously and prepared for every guest, adding that he felt he was trying to “get into a rhythm” on air. He then claimed Roker would respond with jealousy.
“I took [my job] very seriously, I prepared for every guest. I knew everything, I was well researched. I would get into a rhythm and Al would get jealous,” Billy alleged. “He’s territorial.”
He also described moments where he said Roker would cut in after he asked guests multiple “questions in a row,” and he said the vibe in the room made him feel unwelcome.
“There was this general feeling they don’t want you there,” Billy said. “When I got the gig. the bosses did the thing. they thought I was going to be great for the third hour. But the territorial talent, especially the men — Matt Lauer, Al Roker — definitely did not want me there. You could feel it on their skin. I could feel it in the room with them.”.
On top of the on-air atmosphere, Billy brought up what he said was a social media issue during his daily time on the show. He claimed Roker was liking posts that described him as a “white-splaining racist.”
“I was on the air with him every day,” he recalled. “And so I’m like, ‘Oh, my god, I’m here. I’m new. I’m the new guy. And this dude’s liking tweets from people that are calling me things that are career-ending and awful and not f–king true.’”
Billy said he raised the concern with producers, but claimed they didn’t act because, as he put it, “Al had been there forever.”
“People don’t know how mean he was. He’s mean,” Billy said of Roker. “He’s mean. He’s a mean person. When you say rageful and all that, it’s mean. There is rage in there. There’s jealousy. And I talk about vindictiveness, but he’s mean.”
His comments land against a larger backdrop of “Today” workplace talk, including a separate account from another former journalist who described Roker as one of the “meanest” celebrities she’s ever met.
Billy Bush Al Roker Today NBC Maureen Callahan The Nerve Donald Trump Matt Lauer celebrity news morning show