David Letterman is looking back on his past behaviour with some real regret.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, the former “Late Night” host speaks to former writer for the show, Nell Scovell, about a story she wrote a decade ago calling him out for sexist behaviour behind-the-scenes.
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In her original piece, Scovell wrote about how Letterman not hiring enough women writers and having inappropriate relationships with staffers led her to quit the show.
“You know, the other night I read the piece that you wrote 10 years ago,” Letterman tells Scovell in the new article. “And I thought, ‘Holy s**t, this is so disturbing’ and, sadly, a perspective that I did not have.”
He continues, “I’m sorry I was that way and I was happy to have read the piece because it wasn’t angering. I felt horrible because who wants to be the guy that makes people unhappy to work where they’re working? I don’t want to be that guy. I’m not that guy now. I was that guy then.”
Scovell also reveals that she told Letterman about two other female staffers who were denied promotions to the writing staff on “Late Night”, which prompted Letterman to call them both the next day and apologize.
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Reflecting on the conversation, Scovell writes, “We need more dialogue so men can understand the difference between criticism and condemnation. And we need more dialogue so women can voice discomfort without fear of retaliation.”
She adds, “Dave’s willingness to speak to me on the record is part of him making amends. His acknowledgment of mistakes and regret go out to those who were wronged. They also go out to the enablers and defenders of his behaviour. That’s equally important.”
