David Letterman has got his female employees' knickers in a twist !

[orangeman]

Letterman reveals 'sex blackmail' 

David Letterman: "This whole thing has been quite scary" (footage courtesy of Worldwide Pants)

US chat show host David Letterman has confessed during a recording of his show he has had sexual relationships with female members of his staff.

"I have had sex with women who work for me on this show," he told an audience in New York, saying an attempt had been made to blackmail him over the affairs.

Letterman said "a guy" had threatened to expose the relationships unless a payment of $2m (£1.2m) was made.

CBS, which broadcasts Letterman's show, said an employee had been arrested.

It said the man, who has not been officially named, works on the true-crime show 48 Hours and had been suspended pending the results of the investigation.

The man was arrested on Thursday on charges of attempted grand larceny, CBS said.

Letterman, 62, married long-term girlfriend Regina Lasko in March. They have a six-year-old son.

'Terrible things'

"I have a little story I have to tell you," announced Letterman on Thursday, saying he was first approached by the alleged blackmailer three weeks ago.

He said he had got in his car early one morning to find a package with a letter containing proof of the "terrible things" he was said to have done.


David Letterman said he had handed over a "phoney" cheque for $2m
The letter, he said, was from a man who threatened to write a book and screenplay about the veteran broadcaster unless he was given money.

On the advice of his attorney, Letterman said, he had contacted prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

As part of the investigation, he continued, he had issued a "phoney" $2m cheque to the person allegedly attempting to extort him.

"This morning I did something I've never done in my life," said the broadcaster. "I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury."

In his testimony he acknowledged he had conducted sexual relationships with members of his staff.

"I had to tell them all of the creepy things that I had done," he said.

He did not say when the relationships took place or how long they lasted.

'Bizarre experience'

"The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show."

Letterman said it had been "a very bizarre experience" and that he did not "plan to say much more on this particular topic".

"I felt like I needed to protect these people," he said. "I need to protect my family. I need to protect myself [and] hope to protect my job."

David Letterman has presented The Late Show on CBS since 1993.

Prior to that he hosted a late-night talk show on rival network NBC.

After Letterman's comments, CBS said the presenter had addressed the issue during the show, and that it "believes his comments speak for themselves".


US MEDIA REACTION

While Letterman seems to be in no immediate risk of losing either his family or his job (ratings from last night's telecast will likely be stratospheric), his troubles may not be over. Having sex with people who were his employees or whom he managed could leave him, or CBS, open to a sexual-harassment lawsuit. It's certain the comedian has given the network's lawyers plenty of reasons to be up at night.

Time magazine's Belinda Luscombe wonders what the wider fallout may be for Letterman.


What we don't know, of course, is whether Letterman simply had consensual relations with a fellow grownup at a time when both were free agents or whether other factors were at play, like age or job description. We may never know, and frankly, it would be none of our business except that sometimes this stuff slips out and, okay, we love it when that happens. In any case, Dave's performance last night ensured extortion will not be the main story here.

The New York Daily News's David Hinckley thinks Letterman's sex life has become the chief focus of interest.


He's a famous, rich and, to some, charming man - the fact that he screwed staffers should raise serious ethical questions, like "Did he use his power and influence to take advantage of the women?" Even if he didn't do so intentionally, it's certainly possible that's the case and he's just as guilty as those he's lampooned. But perhaps we should give him some wiggle room here.

Gawker.com's Andrew Belonsky wonders if the public will see Letterman as victim or hypocrite.


I don't know where to begin with David Letterman's bizarro, play-it-for-laughs on-air admission that he had sex with staff members. On the one hand, good for him for telling a fairly unvarnished account of being blackmailed by a Connecticut man for $2 million and admitting to the "creepy things," as Dave kept putting it, the blackmailer was threatening to take public. On the other hand: Couldn't somebody have gone out between the first and second act and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Letterman is about to talk about something very difficult and though you might be tempted to laugh, please don't."

TV critic Aaron Barnhart, on his blog TVbarn.com, finds Letterman's comic approach unnerving.

[Gabriel_Hurl]

I watched this last night - he seemed to be joking about it the whole time - like it wasn't a big deal

[Doogie Browser]

I was a bit shocked when I read this, very weird to reveal it on the show like that.  Suppose it shows how fcuked up the world is, when he can reveal it live on telly.

[orangeman]

At least he wasn't like Cigar loving Bill Clinto who denied it all. 

I'd say like Clinton, his popularity and ratings will soar after this.

[Minder]

At least he wasn't like Cigar loving Bill Clinto who denied it all. 

I'd say like Clinton, his popularity and ratings will soar after this.

He didn't deny it because it was probably about to be made public

[Tony Baloney]

What exactly was he being blackmailed about? Having sex with his colleagues is hardly a hanging offence, unless he was doing it when going out with his now wife. Who may well turn out his wallet for him!

[orangeman]

At least he wasn't like Cigar loving Bill Clinto who denied it all. 

I'd say like Clinton, his popularity and ratings will soar after this.

He didn't deny it because it was probably about to be made public

And cos there probably was a video or two to back it up and to show the cigar ! 

[Drumanee 1]

just watched it there on youtube and i have to say fair fucks to him,maybe it would have became public anyway but to come out on your own show and tell the world first hand took alot of balls (pardon the pun),and showed he was not going to be blackmailed by some sc**bag.

[Minder]

At least he wasn't like Cigar loving Bill Clinto who denied it all. 

I'd say like Clinton, his popularity and ratings will soar after this.

He didn't deny it because it was probably about to be made public

And cos there probably was a video or two to back it up and to show the cigar ! 

I was talking about Letterman not Clinton.

[Puckoon]

What the hell is the point of being David letterman if you can't get a little tail now and then?

[Gabriel_Hurl]

What the hell is the point of being David letterman if you can't get a little tail now and then?

exactly - and it's not like he was married - not that I'm condoning cheating mind you