American television host and comedian David Letterman is widely known for his successful career in late-night television. While he has generally avoided controversies, he once found himself involved in a scandal concerning his relationships with female staff members.
In 2009, during an episode of The Late Show, Letterman returned from a commercial break and asked his audience if he could share an intriguing story. Just a few weeks before, he had discovered a mysterious package in his car one morning. Inside the package was a letter that would lead to an engaging tale.
Letterman revealed that the letter accused him of doing terrible things and included evidence to support the claims. However, he did not disclose the specifics of these actions, choosing instead to focus on what happened next.
In response to the package, Letterman immediately contacted his lawyer. The sender demanded $2 million in exchange for not revealing undisclosed information. Following legal advice, Letterman and his lawyer contacted the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, who recognized the incident as an act of blackmail.
Throughout the ordeal, Letterman’s lawyer had several discreet interactions with the blackmailer, some of which were recorded without the blackmailer’s knowledge. Eventually, a decoy check for $2 million was presented to the individual. On October 1, a few hours prior to the scheduled taping of The Late Show, the perpetrator was apprehended and taken into custody.
After his monologue, Letterman finally disclosed the “terrible, terrible things” that the blackmailer knew about him. He admitted to having engaged in sexual relationships with women who worked for his show. The studio fell silent as Letterman revealed this information.
Letterman acknowledged that his actions would be embarrassing if made public, especially for the women involved. He revealed that he was married when these affairs took place. Following his confession, Letterman publicly apologized to his staff and his wife.
Addressing the impact of his behavior, Letterman spoke about the hurt he caused and his responsibility to fix it. He expressed the challenges ahead of him and his determination to make amends.
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