Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know most of the details about the current David Letterman scandal. Letterman revealed on his show last week that someone had recently attempted to blackmail him. In exchange for $2 million the alleged extortionist told Letterman he would not go public with evidence he had of Letterman's past sexual exploits with women on his staff.
Since Letterman's first account of the crime on his show, the alleged extortionist's identity has been revealed as prominent 48 Hours producer Robert Halderman. And more news has surfaced that Halderman's ex-live-in girlfriend was Stephanie Birkitt, Letterman ex-assistant. Though Birkitt herself has not come forward it has been reported that she was one of the women involved in a sexual relationship with her boss, Letterman.
The public's reaction to the shocking news appears to be split. Some stand behind Letterman, believing the way he has conducted himself the last few days to be respectable and worthy of redemption. The relations he had with his staff appear to be, at this point, consensual. And during the time of his affairs he was not married to his now wife Regina. By revealing the attempted extortion on his show Letterman has managed to remind people that he is the victim in this case.
On the other hand there are many people speaking out that find Letterman's past exploits to be reprehensible and think he should be disciplined by the network. Letterman may not have been married, but he appeared to be in a long term (23 year) committed relationship during the time of the relationships with his staff members. And any time you have someone of authority having sex with his subordinates questions arise over whether work place code of conduct was violated.
What do you think of the latest Letterman scandal?
Do you think Letterman should be disciplined in any way by his network?
Personally, I think that what he decided to do in his personal life is really none of anyone's business. I could understand people might think the work place code of conduct was violated, but what if it wasn't? What if it was just two people having a good time together? Then why should he ''disciplined" for his actions? If it was a consensual relationship between two adults there should not be consequences. Besides, if you have ever had a relationship with someone in your workplace, you know what you are getting into, you know it can get kind of sticky. So if he gets "disciplined", so should all the women involved in this scandal.
thebluestbutterfly::
on Oct 08, 2009
Yes...if the employees somehow received favoritism as a result of the relationships.
jenndta::
on Oct 08, 2009
I don't think he should be disciplined as long as in was consensual. It might have been "morally" wrong, but at the end of the day it's really none of our business. He's not the first celebrity that had affairs. The extortinest was the one that broke the law and he's the one who needs to be punished. I'm not sayine that Letterman should get away scott free, but he's embarrassed that his personal life has been exposed and he still needs to deal with the downfall of this with his family.
reetl1::
on Oct 08, 2009
I do not think he should be disciplined at work. It is his personal life and as long as he was still doing his job that should be that. As for dealing with his personal life at home-that is another thing. I would not let him off easy AT ALL!!!! I think that is gonna be his biggest problem from all of this.
msfriendly::
on Oct 08, 2009
If this was consensual, then so be it...even though he's scum for cheating on his wife. It's just another one of those "celebrity things".
cathysue1::
on Oct 08, 2009
I think is a personal thing between david letterman and his wife and should be kept more private. we see this happen all the time with celebrities. Its never right and it happens in our world too. I hope if she is able to forgive him that they seek counseling. Maybe its not too late for them. Iv been cheated on I know how hard it can be and I feel for her. Sometimes you cant forgive. well see what happens.
thebutlerdidit::
on Oct 08, 2009
I think he took the high road by coming out and admitting this before anyone could come out and ask him about it. Whenever that happens it seems that the only thing to do is to deny it. It just puts us on the defensive. At least now he can stop losing sleep over worrying about when and how the news would break and start dealing with the aftermath. I don't think any punishment is necessary. None of the women who have worked for him have made complaints. The lawyers have come out on tv in force to say that no lawsuits have been filed YET. I am so sick of that. Don't assume that these affairs were widely known by all of the staff and a hostile work environment was formed. Something tells me DL is smart enough to not flaunt these affairs to the point where someone could turn around and tell his wife about them.
LISA2699::
on Oct 08, 2009
One can not say if the workplace code of conduct was violated unless they have the employee policies of the organization that this person works for. It is very, very easy for people to point and judge. Why is no one looking at the people who tired to blackmail someone, which is illegal. If his wife is upset, which she has every reason to, then it is up to her to do something about it. For all we know, she knew what he was doing before they were married and still married him.
hrydhswyfe::
on Oct 08, 2009
I'm glad he did not give into an extortionist. Between the media and people's judgements, he is being punished. I do feel bad for his family, and any of the other families that will be involved as a result of this scandal. They are the ones that will suffer also.
tofusgirl::
on Oct 09, 2009
I think it's none of my business who the man has sex with...None of the women are saying they were forced to sleep with him...
