Impact of Letterman’s affairs unclear

U.S. media experts say it is unclear what long-lasting impact David Letterman’s recent disclosure about having sex with staff members might have on his image.

Letterman admitted his past dalliances with employees on last Thursday’s edition of Late Show with David Letterman after he testified before a grand jury that a man threatened to release the information to the public if he did not pay him $2 million.

A CBS News producer was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the alleged extortion plot, but pleaded innocent and was released on bail last week.

There’s something to be said for addressing it head-on, Tom Weeks — senior vice president for Starcom Entertainment — told USA Today about Letterman’s decision to publicly admit he had sexual relationships with his employees. He took control of it and is powerful enough … to choose to handle it in the way he wanted. He’s got the longevity where people want to root for him. … In the end, I think people will move past this to the country’s next scandal and they will enjoy Letterman for what he is, which is a comedian.

However, Carol Jenkins, a former WNBC-TV news anchor who is president of the Women’s Media Center, described Letterman’s televised confession as one of the more bizarre episodes in media we’ve had in recent times.

A viewing audience of millions was caught up in a very serious story, responding with laughter and applause because they weren’t forewarned, Jenkins told USA Today, adding that Letterman’s employees might not be pleased by the revelation.

“The young women (in his office) so far have not complained. The other staffers have to say whether (these women) were given advantages in the workplace.

These are very problematic issues, Jenkins added. It isn’t funny at all.”