Arianne Zucker, the soap opera star who Donald Trump and Billy Bush fawn over in that now-infamous sexist 2005 video, has broken her silence about the controversy.
“My name is Arianne (R-E-on) ZUCKER (Zooker) and I am a strong, independent, hard working mother, business woman and partner to a great man,” the “Days of Our Lives” actress wrote on Facebook. “I have grown to learn that the words of others cannot affect the value of my self worth or define the content of my character. How we treat one another, whether behind closed doors, locker rooms or face to face, should be done with kindness, dignity and respect.
“Unfortunately, there are too many people in power who abuse their position and disregard these simple principles and are rewarded for it. In understanding the magnitude of this situation, I choose to stand tall with self respect and use my voice to enrich, inspire and elevate the best of who we are as people.”
“My name is Arianne (R-E-on) ZUCKER (Zooker) and I am a strong, independent, hard working (cont) https://t.co/jOE344FCSf
— Arianne Zucker (@Ari_Zucker) October 9, 2016
On Friday, the Washington Post released a video of Trump and Bush on a bus discussing a woman who had turned down the Republican nominee’s advances in graphic terms that some believe condone sexual assault.
Once they exit the bus, the two are greeted by Zucker. Trump says that he wants to “use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her,” referring to Zucker.
In addition to Zucker’s statement, Tic Tac USA condemned the billionaire mogul, calling Trump’s words and behavior “completely inappropriate and unacceptable.”
Nancy O’Dell, the woman who Trump failed to seduce, also responded to the video, saying that she is “saddened that these comments still exist in our society at all.”
Trump and Bush have both apologized, though that hasn’t stopped many of Trump’s most prominent supporters from turning on him.
