Billy Bush Recalls Singer Ricky Martin Becoming Furious With Him After Almost Outing Him As Gay

Entertainment personality Billy Bush recently opened up about the time singer Ricky Martin, known for his hit "Livin’ La Vida Loca," became furious with him on the set of an interview after he asked the Grammy winner whether he was gay. According to Bush, his rationale for the invasive question came after he ran into the singer's fans at a bar who were curious about his sexuality.

“He stiffens up in the chair and he goes, ‘What?’ And I go, ‘Oh boy,'” Bush told Rob Lowe on his podcast, "Literally! With Rob Lowe," according to Page Six. “And he goes, ‘You motherf-cker,’ rips off his microphone.”

Bush revealed that Martin had choice words for him, saying, "You want your headline ... You piece of garbage."

Following the fiery exchange, Bush said Martin stormed off the set, leaving Bush to think to himself, "Oh sh-t." The feeling of dread was shared by a producer, who also told Bush, "This is terrible."

As the conversation continued with Lowe, Bush said he received a call from his bosses directly after Martin's blowup, who expressed their frustration with his line of questions.

However, Bush framed the unfortunate interaction as a pivotal learning moment that has helped him grow.

“I’m not in the business of hurting people. I am in the business of figuring out who I am and where I’m going. And you need to be able to make mistakes in life,” Bush, 52, said about the moment.

Bush stated that he managed to catch up with Martin after the "Maria" singer walked off the set and apologized for what he described as his "inappropriate" behavior.

“Ricky, I am so sorry for asking that question. I don’t know what I was thinking. It was a cowboy question. It was inappropriate. I’m so sorry, and I promise you this will never see the light of day," Bush said.

Martin replied by explaining to the "Extra" host that his sexuality was a deeply personal struggle.

“It is deeply personal to me," Martin continued. "I appreciate you coming back in here. I forgive you.”

Martin eventually came out as gay in 2010 after he welcomed his first two children via surrogate in 2008.

In an emotional letter, he called himself a "fortunate homosexual man" before saying it took years of "reflection" before deciding to open up about his personal life with the world.

"This is just what I need, especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day," Martin wrote. "These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed."

Martin was supported by many people around him, specifically his father, who encouraged him to be honest about his sexuality for the sake of his children.

“He said, ‘What are you going to teach your kids, to lie? You got to be open,’” Martin said about his conversation with his father.

“I want to help you. How can we do this?” Martin recalled his father saying. “And I’m like, ‘All right, dad, I’m working on it. Give me a second. I don’t know how. I don’t know if it’s through an interview. I don’t know if I want to write a letter and tweet it. I don’t know. Give me a break. It’ll come.’”

However, not everyone in his circle reacted positively.

Martin previously told Andy Cohen that his own management team believed opening up about his romantic life would ruin his career.

“‘This is going to be the end of your career. Don’t. You don’t need to. Why? Shut up. You don’t need to share it. Everybody knows around you. You don’t have to tell the world. Your friends know, your family know. Why do you need to stand in front of the camera and talk about it?’” Martin remembered his team saying to him.

“They didn’t understand the importance of it," he explained, adding, "Now I see it.”