Nancy O’Dell, the woman at the center of the leaked Donald Trump tape, is speaking out about the crass comments made by the GOP presidential nominee.
“Politics aside, I’m saddened that these comments still exist in our society at all,” the Entertainment Tonight host said in a statement posted on the show’s website. “When I heard the comments yesterday, it was disappointing to hear such objectification of women. The conversation needs to change because no female, no person, should be the subject of such crass comments, whether or not cameras are rolling. Everyone deserves respect no matter the setting or gender. As a woman who has worked very hard to establish her career, and as a mom, I feel I must speak out with the hope that as a society we will always strive to be better.”
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On Friday, an unearthed audiotape of Trump talking about making advances on O’Dell, who was then a co-host on Access Hollywood, was released online by the Washington Post. In the audio, which was captured on a hot microphone, Trump and former Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush, who is now a co-host on the Today show, are overheard having a lewd conversation about Trump’s advances.
“I moved on her, and I failed. I’ll admit it,” Trump can be heard saying about O’Dell, who was only identified as “Nancy” on the recording. “I did try and f— her. She was married.”
He continues, “I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married.”
The resurfaced audio was recorded when Trump appeared on Access Hollywood in 2005 to discuss his cameo on Days of Our Lives.
He was newly married to Melania Trump at the time.
Access Hollywood confirmed O’Dell was the “Nancy” Trump referred to on the tape during their Friday night show.
On the tape, Trump also said of women in general: “When you’re a star, they let you do it. … Grab them by the p—y. You can do anything.”
In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, Melania Trump called her husband’s words “unacceptable and offensive” and said she hoped people will accept his apology like she has. Her response follows a statement and video apology from Donald Trump, who announced on Saturday morning that, despite growing condemnation and calls for him to quit from his own party, the Republican presidential nominee will “never” withdraw from the race.
