How This Christian Book Brought Billy Bush Hope After Scandal
By Jessie McGriff, Contributing Writer
In 2016, television host Billy Bush, cousin of former President George W. Bush, thought his life was over. Bush entered into emotional darkness after a 2005 tape leaked in which he had a very controversial conversation with then-candidate Donald Trump. As punishment, Bush was fired from his job at NBC.
After Bush lost his job, and the news of his conversation spread, he fell into a deep
depression and turned to heavy drinking. When Bush was interviewed by the Daily Beast, he admitted that he also contemplated suicide during this time.
Here’s what he said:
“Suicidal thoughts pop into your head,” he told the outlet. “I’d never seriously do it — because I have children that matter, but when you’re really low — and this is important to include — you’re emoting at the most extreme.”
Bush’s problems continued to get worse. After the scandal came out, he explained to his three daughters what happened. In one interview he said:
“My [then] 15-year-old, Mary, called me from boarding school, and she was in tears: ‘Dad, Dad, Dad,’ and I said, ‘Everything is going to be fine, Mary. Everything’s going to be OK.’ It’s just instinctively what you say to your daughter. She said, ‘No, why were you laughing at the things that he was saying on that bus, Dad? They weren’t funny,'” the father described.
“It hit really hard, and I stopped for a second, and I said, ‘I have no answer for that that’s any good. I am really sorry. That was Dad in a bad moment a long time ago. You know me. I am really sorry that you had to hear and see that. I love you.’ She needed to hear that, and I certainly needed to tell her that,” he said.
To add to the depression during this dark season, his wife filed for divorce in 2017.
Everything in Bush’s life was falling apart.
On Christmas Eve 2018, everything changed. Bush discovered a book that took him out of the shadows and transformed his life.
That’s when Bush started reading “The Purpose of Christmas” by pastor and well-known author Rick Warren.
Bush recounted in his own words how the book lifted him out of the darkness into the light.
“I felt this unbelievably overpowering presence come over me,” Bush remembered. “It took me from the deepest feelings of despair to a warm glow of everything’s gonna be just fine. A very powerful moment. I won’t forget it.”
As Bush said, he is just fine now. As of September 9, 2019, Bush has been hired as the managing editor of Fox’s new show EXTRA, which premieres on Monday, September 16.
In the midst of the darkness, Bush found a ray of hope, and now his life is coming back together.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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