David Letterman Death Threat: Host is No Stranger to Being Targeted
David Letterman has received threats over the internet this week from a prominent jihadist forum, which called on radical Muslims to “cut the tongue of” the comedian.
A contributor to the forum called “shumukh al-Islam,” who goes by the name Umar al Basrawi, claimed Letterman insulted Osama bin Laden and another senior al-Qaida leader IIyas Kashmiri in one of his late night show’s skits.
Letterman has been the target of various other attacks in recent years.
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Others have threatened Letterman in the past, including Robert Halderman, a former CBS News producer, who attempted to extort $2 million from Letterman in 2009 by threatening to expose sexual relationships the host allegedly had with members of his staff.
“I know that you do some terrible, terrible things and I can prove that you do these terrible things…and sure enough what was contained in the package was proof that I do terrible, terrible things,” said Letterman on his show stating what Halderman told him during the threats.
“My response to that is, Yes I have,” said Letterman on the air. “Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would. Especially for the women.”
The producer ended up going to jail for six months after pleading guilty.
In 2005, Kelly Frank, a painter on Letterman’s Montana ranch, threatened to kidnap his nanny and his then 16-month-old son Henry.
Frank was arrested and was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing my house on television while I’m in my house watching television,” Letterman joked shortly after the incident.
Radical Muslims also made headlines in recent years when they threatened the creators of “South Park” stating that they could face violent repercussions for depicting the prophet Muhammad in a bear suit on the Comedy Central cartoon.
The FBI is now investigating the threat to Letterman according to Jim Margolin, spokesman for the bureau’s New York office.
No comments were issued by any Letterman reps or by CBS regarding the threats.
