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Blackmailer Read Letterman All Wrong

He's notoriously private, but don't cross him

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 27, 2009 4:44 PM CDT

(Newser) – When Robert Halderman asked David Letterman for $2 million, he probably assumed the notoriously private Letterman would pay him off to avoid public embarrassment. But "all Dave cares about is his career," a source tells New York in a lengthy look at the host and the scandal. "Dave is like, 'No one fucks with me. You fuck with me, you die."

As for mistress Stephanie Birkitt, "she was smart," says one source. She wasn't “this vixen, slutty, hitting-on-your-husband kind of girl.” The story says it's unclear whether Letterman's wife knew of the affair and notes that the staff—though some have grumbled they wish Letterman just paid the bribe—have rallied around their boss. "I think the prevailing feeling was, 'How can we help?’" says one.

Stephanie Birkitt and David Letterman are shown in this YouTube thumbnail.
Stephanie Birkitt and David Letterman are shown in this YouTube thumbnail.   (YouTube)
This image rendered form video shows David Letterman as he tells his story during a taping of his late-night show Thursday Oct. 1, 2009.
This image rendered form video shows David Letterman as he tells his story during a taping of his late-night show Thursday Oct. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/CBS)
Robert J. Halderman appears in State Supreme Court in New York, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, for an arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge.
Robert J. Halderman appears in State Supreme Court in New York, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, for an arraignment on an attempted grand larceny charge.   (AP Photo/Marc A. Hermann, Pool)
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They’re cut off from the outside world. They only have each other to hang out with. And so they start to feel very, very loyal, and very trapped. - A former staffer, on Dave and his assistants

Joe is an adult. Dave brought this on himself. Stephanie is the sweetest girl. She’s the one who is going to get damaged, and that’s not fair. - A friend of Birkitt's

You can look at these women and see how they look. He’s not setting himself up for rejection. He’s not going to ask the head of the cheerleading team to prom. He’s going to ask the head of the band or something. - A former staffer, on Letterman's type

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 25 comments
shopgirl1623
Oct 29, 2009 12:21 PM CDT
I believe he was with Lasko 26 years... after ten years... doesn't that constitute common law marriage, and do you think because they weren't married, it makes it any less hurtful. Do you think she was any less invested after they had a child together. I mean, when you're with someone, you're with them. If not you need to be adult about it and move on. Even if it's weekly. Until you've been cheated on you really won't understand.
prowlerzee
Oct 29, 2009 1:51 AM CDT
shopgirl, no need to explain or defend. Humans understand completely what you are saying. What you have to understand is that the guys here are unsocialized hideous underhung geeks who have zero experience in the real world. Letterman is a pig. His wife should kick him to the curb and take half. His bosses should fire him for a toxic work environment. The women in the workplace should sue everyone for sexual harassment/ The latest Vanity Fair has an account by one woman writer who details the toxic workplace. The pigs will squeeeeeeeeallllllll all the way to the slaughterhouse of misogyny and after they are all gutted and smoked and eaten and under the outhouse of history they will be held up to the ridicule they deserve. Don't ask masturbatory geeks to understand relationships or trust or betrayal. They have no clue, they couldn't possibly.
prowlerzee
Oct 29, 2009 1:44 AM CDT
Don't worry, shopgirl. Humans can understand what you're saying. And maybe even some men, those who are not underhung and actually have companionship.

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