NBC suspends Billy Bush from Today show over Donald Trump lewd tape scandal

American broadcast network, NBC, has suspended television personality Billy Bush from the Today Show in the wake of the controversial video featuring him and US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump engaging in a lewd conversation about women.

"There is simply no excuse for Billy's language and behavior on that tape. "NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter," Associated Press quoted the excerpts from the memo released by Today Executive Producer Noah Oppenheim said in a memo.

The move comes two days after the videotape from the Access Hollywood archives was circulated online. The video was recorded when Trump and Bush - then associated with Access Hollywood - arrive on the set of Days of Our Lives to tape a segment about Trump's cameo on the soap opera. In the video, Trump can be heard saying: "I just start kissing them... Just kiss. I don't even wait... And when you're a star they let you do it," he says in the recording

Following outrage over his comments, Trump said, "This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course - not even close."

Making a rare apology, Trump said, "I apologise if anyone was offended."

Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton was quick to slam Trump for his remarks, saying, "This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president."

--With agency inputs