Entertainment Tonight host Nancy O’Dell addressed the controversy that has shaken the presidential campaign of Donald Trump–and included vulgar comments about O’Dell herself.
“I feel it’s very important that I address you all directly,” O’Dell said on Monday’s ET. “As a journalist for 26 years now, it is my job to bring you news about others, rather than turning the focus on myself. But by now, I’m sure that most of you have heard the audio tape which became national news and part of the presidential race. My name was mentioned and, unfortunately, the release of it has thrown me into the middle of the political arena of which I didn’t ask to be a part.”
In the audio recordings made public Friday, Donald Trump talks to O’Dell’s then Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush, describing O’Dell in graphic and vulgar terms.
“I also want to take this time now to thank you, the viewers, who so graciously open your homes to Entertainment Tonight every night,” O’Dell said. “I’ve been flooded with your messages from around the world, and I so appreciate all of your kind words. I have been reading as many as I can and they are completely renewing my faith that we all want a better and more inclusive society. So, once again, I thank you all for your support.”
In a statement O’Dell issued Saturday—which she repeated on ET Monday—she said “there is no room for objectification of women, or anybody for that matter, not even in the ‘locker room.'”