CBS Stands By Dave Letterman (For Now)

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 3rd 2009 11:26AM

Publicly, David Letterman has received the full support of the high-ups at CBS. Behind the scenes, however, execs are bit more skittish. Sources inside the company told the New York Times on Friday that Letterman could possibly lose their backing if more damning information about his flings with employees come to light.

Letterman has a long history of dating young women that work for his production company, Worldwide Pants, one longtime associate of his told the Times. He carried on a longtime relationship with a head writer on 'Late Night' and he is said to have been linked to at least two previous assistants, including Stephanie Birkitt, who is at the center of the alleged extortion plot against the star.

However, CBS and Letterman announced on Friday that all affairs took place before he married his longtime girlfriend, Regina Lasko, in March.

What does have CBS brass up nights is not the timing of the trysts, but the question of whether his actions ever crossed the line over to sexual harassment, or showed that he exhibited an abuse of power. According to the Times, CBS sought assurances that none of the women were under age.

Birkitt was Letterman's top assistant for several years, but there has been no indication she was harassed or promoted because of the relationship. Birkitt's acquaintance Robert "Joe" Halderman pleaded not guilty Friday to blackmailing Letterman.

Letterman is self-employed, so his actions aren't actually subject to CBS policy. Inter-office romances are not frowned upon by Worldwide Pants, his company that produces 'The Late Show.' A spokesman issued a statement that read: "Dave is not in violation of our policy and no one has ever raised a complaint against him."

The spokesman said the policy "does not prohibit relationships within the company -- only that they cannot be tied to an employee's performance."

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Related to Letterman ...

Attorney Gerald Shargel, right, speaks to the Court on behalf of his client, Robert J. Halderman, foreground left, at Manhattan Supreme Court, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 in New York. Halderman was arraigned on charges that he attempted to blackmail "Late Show" host David Letterman for $2 million, with information that Letterman had had a sexual relationship with several female staffers. Attorney Evan L. Lipton, listens in the center. (AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

POOL NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

David Letterman Snapshots

Robert J. Halderman appears in State Supreme Court in New York, Oct. 2, for an arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge. Halderman, a CBS producer, pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that spurred the TV host to acknowledge sexual relationships with women who worked on his show.

Steve Hirsch, Pool / AP

Kevin Lane, next-door neighbor of Robert Halderman, arrives home and talks to reporters from his truck cab, in Norwalk, Conn., on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Lane said of Halderman, "He was active with his son and he never yelled." Halderman was arraigned on charges of extortion with regard to David Letterman, in New York this afternoon. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)

Kevin Lane, next-door neighbor of Robert Halderman, arrives home and talks to reporters from his truck in Norwalk, Conn., on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Lane said of Halderman, "He was active with his son and he never yelled." Halderman was arraigned on charges of extortion with regard to David Letterman, in New York this afternoon. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)

Attorney Evan L. Lipton, right, stands with his client, Robert J. Halderman, center, at Manhattan Supreme Court, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 in New York. Halderman was arraigned on charges that he attempted to blackmail "Late Show" host David Letterman for $2 million, with information that Letterman had had a sexual relationship with several female staffers. (AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Robert J. Halderman appears in State Supreme Court in New York, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, for an arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge. Halderman, a CBS producer, pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that spurred the TV host to acknowledge sexual relationships with women who worked on his show. AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Robert J. Halderman, left, joins attorneys Evan L. Lipton, center and Gerald Shargel at State Supreme Court in New York, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, for his arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge. Halderman, a CBS producer, pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that spurred the TV host to acknowledge sexual relationships with women who worked on his show. AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Robert J. Halderman, center left, appears at State Supreme Court in New York, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, during his arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge. Halderman, a CBS producer, pleaded not guilty to trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that spurred the TV host to acknowledge sexual relationships with women who worked on his show. (AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Attorney Gerald Shargel appears for Robert J. Halderman in Manhattan Supreme Court, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 in New York, where Halderman is arraigned on charges that he attempted to blackmail "Late Show" host David Letterman for $2 million, with information that Letterman had had a sexual relationship with several female staffers. (AP Photo/Pool, Marc A. Hermann)

Tags: CBS, david letterman, DavidLetterman, stephanie birkitt, StephanieBirkitt, the late show, TheLateShow, worldwide pants, WorldwidePants

Comments

(153)

Saturday 03 October

By smellyecoli

Vote down Vote up Report this

LETTERMAN---- ANOTHER HOLIER THAN THOU JESUS FREAK ?????

By thomas

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

top 10 reasons david letterman had an affair
10. he said it was part of there benefit package.
9. paul said it was ok.
8.he thought it was part of getting ready for the show.
7.he doesn't hike.
6.you mean it was wrong i shouldn't have done that.
5. hoped it would help his ratings
4.did you see the girls?
3.was his entrance, daaaviiid leeeteerman!
2.did he call her tonites guest
1.he new we were tired of his sarah palin jkes every night.

Sunday 04 October

By Marilynn

Pig, Pig, Pig. Nothing has changed with this guy. After his insults regarding Sarah Palin's daughter i have felt he is a sick person. What we expect today is unbelievable. He was in fact in a long term committed relationship with his now wife. I guess you could say "common law marriage". I hope he is done and goes away. He admitted and that was a joke in itself. Weak man.

By donna

Like the old saying goes "People in glass houses should not throw stones" He was all over Sarah Palin's daughter being an unwed mom, and he is our there having sex with people who are working for him and maybe they were afraid to turn him down because they could loose their job. People like him make me sick, talk out of both sides of his mouth. Hope he becomes unemployed.

By ettu

They have allowed this low class piece of trash to remain with CBS for years. Why would they think any differently now? They do not understand good taste, or humor without denigrating someone. He actually has participated in some of the unkind suppositions he has made about others. One wonders what kind of a woman would stay with this creep for years, and marry him. Must be the money, don't see anything else worthwhile.

By Lesley

Like he said, it's creepy. He only dates women whose salary he provides? That is so gross!

By shy

well, amazing how the date of the marriage effects how people's moral indignations are based. he was in a long term relationship, had a child with the woman, but still carried on relationship's, yes plural, whilst he was with her. cbs's waffling on the issue just goes to show what spineless bastards run corporate america. they are afraid of losing his time slot to the competitors, so they will allow this pig to continue to abuse his staff or anyone else he pleases, all for the sake of ratings. letterman is a hypocritial, lying, cheating piece of trash who will survive this, unfortunately...

By Bill

Susan said, "He stated he had these affairs PRIOR to his marriage and I accept that." I guess some people do not believe that living with someone for 20 years constitutes a valid relationship. Letterman cheated on his live-in gal pal of 20 years, multiple times. You do not need a piece of paper before calling it cheating. And this from the man who got so many yuks calling Sarah Palin's daughter "loose" for getting pregnant. Compared to Letterman, Bristol Palin is a saint.

By zynotrov

Obviously, this is why David Letterman feels he is superior to Sarah Palin. He is willing to use his position to take advantage of people whose well being depends on their job, and she isn't. Power to David,,congrats dude

Obviously, this is why David Letterman feels he is superior to Sarah Palin. His willing to use his position to take advantage of employees whose economic well being depends on their job,,and she isn't. Congrats dude,,you're a stud for sure

By Al Reine

CBS and David Letterman must be back in the dark ages; dirty David Letterman is nothing more then a Sicko Dirty, Old Man, with a big Hard on for woman; CBS needs to can their Dirty Old Creep; Mrs. Letterman must be: One of Stand By Your Man wifes; Yet Letterman will make fun of the Governor of Alaska, South Carolina, NY, NJ, etc. and the SICKO is doing his own staff with CBS doing nothing ! Where is the ACLU and Al Sharpton, Will Letterman and Al Sharpton with Bill Clinton have a prayer session now with: The Rev. Jessie Jackson ?

By Joe

They were with the staff at HIS company (Worldwide Pants)....under the policies of his company, office romances ARE allowed. Plus, this was many years ago....he was single...he is NOT a politician, a priest, a minister....he's in show business. The woman he had had sex with came out & said yes, we were together..i was in love with him...then we broke up.....so what is the problem???? You need to get your facts correct. Plus, why is HE on trial now?? This guy tried to extort money out of him, and yet Dave is now the one having to defend himself.....that's typical.

By davidcdiehl

I NEVER MUCH CARED FOR LETTREMAN BEFORE, BUT I THINK HE DID THE RIGHT THING, HE SHOUD GET REPECT FOR THAT. I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST.

By karen

I have been and will forever be a Dave fan. What he does in his personal life is his business and only his business.

By Typical Engadget Tech-Nerd

Give me a break. Nothing is going to happen to Letterman. It's all about ratings. Management probably got those female staffers for Letterman to keep him happy. They should check his contract. They'll probably find that female staffers were part of his perks. Letterman probably told human resources to hire pretty and young staff to cater to his whims. As long as Letterman's ratings are good, he'll get whatever he wants. But it's OK, because those staffers want to hang out with Letterman. They can tell their friends that they slept with a late night TV show host. Sounds like a great arrangement. As long as the sex is between two or three consenting adults then everything should be left as it is. Oh, you lucky bastard with all those great perks and a super-high salary for telling bad jokes. Glad I'm not forced to watch your show.

By jebby1

When will we learn the names of the staff members he's been banging? Were any of them teenagers?

Did he knock any of them up? Did he use condoms? Did any of his staff have abortions?

Did he just have sex with the girls or did he have sex with the guys too?

Did he just do his staff one-on-one or was this team sex involving the whole staff?

This is all pretty funny. I never really watched him; kinda thought of him as more an ashole than a comedian. But now I can't wait to hear all the details.

By Diane Manley

I recently read that Les Moonves (CBS) was married when he became involved with Julie Chen. I doubt that he will judge Dave too harshly. Dave was unmarried.

By PAT BROOKS

HE DID RIGHT THING TO COME OUT ON NATIONAL TV....WHO'S BUSINESS IS IT ANYWAY ????? EVERYONE WAS OF AGE OF CONSENT....

By Raejean

If all of these relationships 1) transpired before commitment to Ms. Lasko, 2) involved persons over the legal age for sexual consent, and 3) were not tied in any way explicit or implicit to job performance/conditions/benefits, I could give a flying fig what happened in his private life.

Now, in an ideal world, bosses don't get involved with staffers and underlings and older men seek women their own age. That is not the real world. You don't need my approval to have my support, David, because I know you're a decent fellow.

By Ann

I think he did the smart thing to do with a blackmailer- make his or her information useless and expose him.

The audience laughed...perhaps they thought it was all a leadup to a joke until the very end?

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