<p>Can someone explain the flap about this? I understand that he was blackmailed by an employee, but people have affairs in offices all the time. Was David married at the time? He’s only been married since March. On CNN they said that the women may have felt that they’d lose their jobs if they didn’t “cooperate” with Letterman? That this extortionist was ?? representing their interests? Can someone shed some light on this? I think I’m missing something.</p>
<p>No he wasn’t married but I think he has been living with or at least seriously involved with his wife since the 1980s and they also have a child.
I think the big thing though is that he was the employer and that could be construed as harrassment.</p>
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<p>[David</a> Letterman sex extortion plot the story of a career jester’s private transgressions made public](<a href=“http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/02/2009-10-02_david_letterman_sex_extortion_plot_the_story_of_a_career_jesters_private_transgr.html]David”>http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/02/2009-10-02_david_letterman_sex_extortion_plot_the_story_of_a_career_jesters_private_transgr.html)</p>
<p>The details aren’t out yet. But as emeraldkity4 just noted, even though Letterman has only been married since March, he’s been with his wife since 1986. So unless they had an open relationship, or the affairs occurred while they were “on a break,” he’s at least guilty of infidelity. If that is the extent of it (i.e., there’s no employer harassment involved), it simply throws him into the giant pool of unfaithful celebrities and politicians. But if he was cheating, the humor which with he revealed his affairs seems particularly insulting to his wife.</p>
<p>I found his discussing this on air, with a live audience was bizarre. The clapping and laughter in the background was strange…nothing funny or worthy of applause on that show.
I used to like Letterman 20 years ago, but I find him pretty repulsive and not at all humorous any longer. He seems just like a mean p—k now.</p>
<p>I’m wondering if he thought making a joke about the situation would lessen public perception of him? I watched last night and it was truly bizarre. I think the audience had no idea this was a breaking news story and thought it to be one of his usual strange ramblings…too weird.</p>
<p>I didn’t see the show last night but from what I read in an article, the audience was laughing and otherwise acting inappropriately because it wasn’t until pretty much the end, that they realized he wasn’t joking. That’s a problem of being a comedian, no one knows when you’re being serious.</p>
<p>There are several stories floating around now with a few additional details; apparently the extortionist who has been arrested, was Robert J. (“Joe”) Halderman, a TV producer for “48 Hours.” The linked article below also claims that Halderman once lived with another Late Show staffer (who, according to some of the entertainment blogs and internet rumors, also had an affair with Letterman and may have been a possible source of Halderman’s information?) </p>
<p>[David</a> Letterman reveals $2M sex affair extortion plot; CBS News producer Robert Halderman busted](<a href=“http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/01/2009-10-01_david_letterman_reveals_extortion_plot_con_man_wanted_2m_for_sex_secrets.html?page=1]David”>http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/01/2009-10-01_david_letterman_reveals_extortion_plot_con_man_wanted_2m_for_sex_secrets.html?page=1)</p>
<p>His announcement on the show was indeed very bizarre and confusing; it will be very interesting to see what the repercussions are for him personally and professionally.</p>
<p>I don’t like the man, never have, but I believe he handled it the best way he could, with what he had at his disposal. </p>
<p>The media will have a circus act for a bit, then it will be non-news (unless these women come forward now with claims of sexually harassment in the workplace, which then makes it a different issue).</p>
<p>I like David Letterman, but I don’t stay up that late- He had already discussed things with his wife, but whether the blackmail prompted it, or she brought it up I don’t know.</p>
<p>I do know people who use humor when they feel uncomfortable and I think that can be really awkward, but I don’t know what else he could have done- making jokes about it, is his MO.</p>
<p>I did not see it live but, in the excerpts I have seen, Dave seemed to be attempting to discuss the issue with some seriousness but the audience- knowing Dave- thought it was a “bit”. Dave’s use of self-deprecating humor in an aside did a lot to create that impression IMO. I thought it was obvious that he was wincing at the laughter from the audience at the times when he thought they would perceive him as serious. He was asking too much from his audience. JMO. </p>
<p>BTW, I like the show and I’m a big fan from way back. And I’m still a fan.</p>
<p>He could have announced it outside his show (press release). Then if he wanted to joke on the show, at least people would know what he was talking about. It was kind of bizarre how he chose to announce it…</p>
<p>I’m guessing that since Halderman was arrested right before the taping of last night’s show, Letterman did not want to risk the “news” getting out before he had the chance to fess up…</p>
<p>On another note, why does a news producer for “48 Hours” need to extort $$? Embarassing on all levels; sounds like a soap opera story (if there were any soap operas still around…)</p>
<p>[EXCLUSIVE:</a> Man Arrested For Extortion Lived With Woman Who Slept With Letterman | RadarOnline.com](<a href=“http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/10/exclusive-man-arrested-extortion-lived-woman-who-slept-letterman]EXCLUSIVE:”>EXCLUSIVE: Man Arrested For Extortion Lived With Woman Who Slept With Letterman)</p>
<p>[EXCLUSIVE:</a> CBS Producer Arrested For Extortion Lived With Woman Who Slept With Letterman; New Details From Search Warrant | RadarOnline.com](<a href=“http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/10/exclusive-cbs-producer-arrested-extortion-lived-woman-who-slept-letterman-new]EXCLUSIVE:”>EXCLUSIVE: CBS Producer Arrested For Extortion Lived With Woman Who Slept With Letterman; New Details From Search Warrant)</p>
<p>Halderman supposedly had $$ problems. Guess he’s got bigger problems now.</p>
<p>“The woman still works on the show but is no longer involved with David.”…um, not sure she would still be welcome on the staff?? She couldn’t have been clueless about what Halderman was up to?</p>
<p>Rodney-
Apparently she supplied Halderman with her diary and some correspondence…</p>
<p>Halderman… is this Watergate redux???</p>
<p>And if she gets canned, she’ll probably sue for retaliation. Sheesh…</p>
<p>I think that Letterman has really outstanding handlers who gave him the best possible advice for how to take control of the situation before the tabloid media went crazy with it. I was watching when he made his announcement and it was weird. I think that the audience didn’t quite know what was going on and kept waiting for a punch-line that never came.</p>
<p>I heard on the 11:00 news on a different station that Letterman was about to break this extortion story on his show. I tried to stay awake for it but fell asleep…</p>
<p>I never ceased to be amazed by the stupidity of supposedly intelligent people and the things they will do. Halderman was a producer for a big name t.v. show. Did he really think he would get away with it? Did he really think it was worth spending oodles of time in prison for if he got caught?</p>
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<p>Letterman slept with women working for him. This is beyond infidelity. This is harrassment. If it’s true, CBS should fire him and those women should sue for sexual harrassment.</p>
<p>Isn’t it harassment if they felt pressured to do so for fear of reprisal or job loss? If they did so willingly is it still harassment? Somebody is likely to accuse them of being golddiggers (don’t agree, just predicting…)</p>