The Grab 'Em Tapes
a gender-flipped verbatim performance of the
Donald Trump-Billy Bush Access Hollywood tapes
in 3 different gender configurations
On Friday, October 7, 2016, The Washington Post released an edited and shortened video clip and transcript of an interaction between Donald Trump, Billy Bush, then co-host of Access Hollywood, and Arianne Zucker, then actress on Days of Our Lives, that took place in September 2005. In the clip, Donald Trump “bragged in vulgar terms” about his interactions with women. The unedited and uncensored clip of the exchange can be viewed by clicking here.
This audio project features a verbatim performance of the entire unedited exchange, created by actors who have carefully studied the words and inflections of the original speakers. Three different versions have been recorded: two women talking about a man (FFM), two women talking about a woman (FFF), and two men talking about a man (MMM). Each configuration is available in uncensored and censored formats to accommodate for varying comfort levels with the language used in the exchanges.
New names have been assigned, but they preserve the cadence of the original speech patterns. Pronouns and referenced body parts have been changed to reflect the genders of the new speakers. Otherwise, the text is performed verbatim.
The different gender configurations allow us to consider the following:
- What societal expectations do we have about the way men and women talk about sex, sexual attraction, and sexual expression?
- How do we respond when those societal expectations are tested?
*** We invite you to share your thoughts and comments on SoundCloud. ***
Two women talking about a man
Donald Trump becomes “Brenda King”
Billy Bush becomes “Rikki Ross”
Arianne Zucker becomes “Jameson Parker”
Uncensored version
Censored version
Two women talking about a woman
Donald Trump becomes “Brenda King”
Billy Bush becomes “Rikki Ross”
Arianne Zucker becomes “Julianne Parker”
Uncensored version
Censored version
Two men talking about a man
Donald Trump becomes “Harold King”
Billy Bush becomes “Ricky Ross”
Arianne Zucker becomes “Jameson Parker”
Uncensored version
Censored version
Featuring Rachel Tuggle Worton as “Brenda King,” Suzy Jane Hunt as “Rikki Ross,” Josh Batty as “Jameson Parker,” Analisa Gutierrez as “Julianne Parker,” Ryan Conarro as “Harold King,” and Daryl Embry as “Ricky Ross”
With additional voices provided by Rai Arsa Artha, Laura Cabochan, Melanie Harrison, Cassie Holzum, Keith R. Huff, Roxy Reynolds, and Joe Salvatore
Director: Joe Salvatore
Assistant Director and Researcher: Keith R. Huff
Production Manager: Cassie Holzum
Consultants: Nick Bolton, Maria Guadalupe, Chris Stipeck, and Andy Wagner
Full transcripts of The Grab 'Em Tapes are available for review.
Email your request to verbatimperformancelab@nyu.edu.
