David Letterman's confession tonight..

[AshleyW]

I never really cared for David Letterman in the first place, and this doesn't make it any easier for me to like him..

NEW YORK (CNN) -- David Letterman told his audience Thursday that he is the victim of an alleged extortion attempt and admitted to having sexual relations with several members of his staff, according to a press release from his production company.

Letterman made the announcement during taping of the "Late Show."

"This morning, I did something I've never done in my life," Letterman told his audience, according to a release from Worldwide Pants Inc. "I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury."

The 62-year-old funnyman said he received a package three weeks ago from a person who claimed to have information about Letterman's sexual dalliances, ultimately demanding $2 million to prevent public revelation.

Letterman said he went to the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which conducted an investigation, and an arrest was made earlier Thursday.

In his grand jury testimony, Letterman said, he revealed the relations with members of his staff.

"My response to that is, yes I have," he said. "Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would. I feel like I need to protect these people -- I need to certainly protect my family."

Letterman married long-time partner Regina Lasko in March. The couple, who have been together since 1986, have a son, Harry, 6.

Letterman has been host of "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS since 1993 after leaving NBC, where he was host of "Late Night with David Letterman" for 11 years. "Late Show" airs at 11:30 p.m. "Late Night" aired an hour later.

 

[JR6ooo4]

celebrity status does not a role model make.

Mikeeee

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

not a big deal.

depends a little on whether they were relationships or affairs. He spent most of his life single, so I have to imagine they were relationships. Doesn't matter to me if he had relationships with his co-workers. If they were affairs that is a little worse, but really between him and his wife and the other person and their spouse.

 

[AshleyW]

not a big deal.

depends a little on whether they were relationships or affairs. He spent most of his life single, so I have to imagine they were relationships. Doesn't matter to me if he had relationships with his co-workers. If they were affairs that is a little worse, but really between him and his wife and the other person and their spouse.

He's been with the woman who is now his wife since 86, so I imagine they were affairs.

 

[DebbieB]

At least he stood up and admitted it rather than giving into extortion demands. Unlike someone like John Edwards who went to great lengths to cover it up and continued to lie.

 

[PixieDust32]

I like David as a comediant, I like his show, if he had affairs is not on my business. It doesn't matter to me if he cheated on his wife, if he had affairs with co workers o whoever, that's is his and his wife, family business. He didn't assault anyone, or rape anyone, he cheated oh god! Please, so all those senators or whatever they are, I can't keep up anymore. I like David's show.

 

[Imzadi]

He's been with the woman who is now his wife since 86, so I imagine they were affairs.

He wasn't married for the 23 years of whatever they had. Maybe he told her 23 years ago he wasn't the faithful kind and not to expect that or marriage.

Sheesh, people would have crucified him if he was married the past 23 years. And they still are

, even though he wasn't. He sounds more honest by NOT having been married. what kind of woman stays with a guy without marrying him for 23 years? probably one who knew the score. The private details of their relationship are none of my business.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

He wasn't married for the 23 years of whatever they had. Maybe he told her 23 years ago he wasn't the faithful kind and not to expect that or marriage.

Sheesh, people would have crucified him if he was married the past 23 years. And they still are

, even though he wasn't. He sounds more honest by NOT having been married. what kind of woman stays with a guy without marrying him for 23 years? probably one who knew the score. The private details of their relationship are none of my business.

I was just going to say something similar - they weren't married, so who knows what the status of their relationship was or what they had worked out between them. Harry didn't come along until 2003.

 

[N.Bailey]

I don't care about his indiscretions either. That's between him and his wife, and perhaps anyone he'd been with and that person's partner. I'm glad he stood up to them and an arrest has been made. I find it kind of refreshing that he owned up to it. You don't see that much these days.

That doesn't make him a role model, but personally, I never thought he was a role model to begin with. Mother Teresa was a role model and not many emulate all the good she did during her life, IMO. Letterman is an entertainer.

 

[allison443]

Dave is really a target! Wasn't there an unsuccessful plot a few years ago to kidnap his son? I think it was someone who worked for Dave at his property in the west..

 

[Imzadi]

Dave is really a target! Wasn't there an unsuccessful plot a few years ago to kidnap his son? I think it was someone who worked for Dave at his property in the west..

He also had a female stalker years upon years ago. She was quite insane. I think she kept saying she was his wife and might have threatened to kill him a few times. She actually broke into his house. Once while he was there and he had to call the police. And I think another time, she "moved in" to his place while he happened to be away on vacation.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm sure we will be hearing alot more about this, but since there isn't much information out there yet, I'll say it really is between him and his wife, but if these turn out to be "quickies" in his dressing room and any of the women come out and say they felt they had to sleep with him to keep their job or something...or felt they couldn't say no, well, then Dave is going to have a problem. Other than that, it really is between him and his wife.

 

[allison443]

He also had a female stalker years upon years ago. She was quite insane. I think she kept saying she was his wife and might have threatened to kill him a few times. She actually broke into his house. Once while he was there and he had to call the police. And I think another time, she "moved in" to his place while he happened to be away on vacation.

Oh yes, I forgot about that one!

 

[MineMail]

He's been with the woman who is now his wife since 86, so I imagine they were affairs.

He and George Clooney were always being cited in the press as "confirmed bachelors." He had a first marriage that ended abruptly, so maybe that had something to do with his unwillingness to get married.

The gossip mavens never missed an opportunity to talk about his being out various women or her having dinner with another guy, so I don't think their relationship was solid until he had the heart trouble.

Hope he had his flings before Harry came into the picture. It would be terrible if he cheated on the mother of his son.

Glad the blackmailers picked on someone with a backbone.

 

[MineMail]

I'm sure we will be hearing alot more about this, but since there isn't much information out there yet, I'll say it really is between him and his wife, but if these turn out to be "quickies" in his dressing room and any of the women come out and say they felt they had to sleep with him to keep their job or something...or felt they couldn't say no, well, then Dave is going to have a problem. Other than that, it really is between him and his wife.

I don't know - if the blackmailer were one of his on-show trysts, would she (or HE - there's a rumor waiting to happen!) just sue him? Why the cloak-and-dagger approach?

I agree with you, though, that it's between Letterman and his wife unless there was some sexual harrassment involved.

 

[Imzadi]

He and George Clooney were always being cited in the press as "confirmed bachelors." He had a first marriage that ended abruptly, so maybe that had something to do with his unwillingness to get married.

The gossip mavens never missed an opportunity to talk about his being out various women or her having dinner with another guy, so I don't think their relationship was solid until he had the heart trouble.

Hope he had his flings before Harry came into the picture. It would be terrible if he cheated on the mother of his son.

Glad the blackmailers picked on someone with a backbone.

For the record, I'm working on George Clooney. He just has to cooperate.


As for Letterman, I've never really watch him. I find him kind of a mean-spirited man. But, I did see an episode right after he had his son Harry. he was so overcome with joy & awe. he pretty much gave a lot of credit to his girlfriend (or whatever you call her,) that she put up with the hell he put her through for 20+ years. He wasn't easy to be with. (So maybe she knew.) he said he just couldn't wrap his brain around the fact that he of all people could produce a child so perfect & wonderful. He admitted he wasn't a very likable or even lovable, and here was this miracle that he helped make who stared back at him with all the love in the world. (Or something to that effect.)

It sounded like he knew he was hard to live with, didn't think he was lovable, which would account for commitment and intimacy issues. The few other times when I watched, when stars on his show like Julia Roberts would ask him why doesn't he marry his baby's mama, he always balked for years.

 

[AshleyW]

I don't know - if the blackmailer were one of his on-show trysts, would she (or HE - there's a rumor waiting to happen!) just sue him? Why the cloak-and-dagger approach?

I agree with you, though, that it's between Letterman and his wife unless there was some sexual harrassment involved.

TMZ says they know who the blackmailer is, and he was arrested today. Here's what they said:

"He is 51-year-old Robert Halderman who lives in Norwalk, CT. He is an employee of "48 Hours" and has been suspended pending results of the investigation"

I'm pretty ambiguous towards the situation. I've never liked him, though - never thought he was all that funny and could never get into his show. Hopefully they were just sexual affairs though & not any quid pro quo type situations like PP's have said.

 

[Took]

At least he stood up and admitted it rather than giving into extortion demands. Unlike someone like John Edwards who went to great lengths to cover it up and continued to lie.

Yes, Edwards and several other recent politicians would have been better to have come right out. I'm glad Letterman made his confession. I say that it's between him and his wife now.

took

PS BTW, we all seem to be assuming that these were relationships with women. Might they be with men and might that be the reason there's been so much cover-up?

 

[shortbun]

Do we care about this? Not like our children are holding him up as a role model, lol! I always assumed he wasn't into manogamy because he was quite clear about NOT being the marrying kind. Several people on his show would try to shame him about getting married and he always said he's wasn't going to do it. I was suprised after his son was born that he actually did marry the boy's mother. I think I told my husband then that 'A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.' In other words, I think he caved to social pressure and his having several girlfriends does not suprise me.

 

[aprilgail2]

He's been with the woman who is now his wife since 86, so I imagine they were affairs.

Didn't they just get married recently?? If they were not married then they were not affairs.