Letterman Apologizes For Joke About Palin's Daughter

June 11, 2009

Late Show host David Letterman took a stab at Sarah Palin earlier this week, but the joke included a sexual reference about her daughter getting "knocked up" by Alex Rodriquez. Palin responded with a statement about the comedian's jabs. It said:

Acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contributes to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.

Then her husband Todd added, "Any ‘jokes’ about raping my 14-year-old are despicable." Letterman issued an apology saying that his comments had been made about the Palin's 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, who is a teenage mother. While the joke was not in good taste, what do you think of the Palin's response as parents?

18 Comments

4 years

I would say that Sarah Palin is more likely to be considered "fair game" as a public figure under the industry standard unspoken "rules". Her kids, no matter their age, are not. However, the joke is still very inappropriate, even if it were to be about an adult. I often cringe at what the late night comedians say about celebrities- they are people who have feelings and don't deserve to be humiliated!

Renees3 4 years

I think it's pretty obvious he wasn't aware which daughter was at the game. Because Sarah Palin is so on the abstinence train and with her daughter being a teen mother and still not seeing that way doesn't work, I can see where the jokes come in. Come on, that's what he does for a living, make fun of people. Unfortunately saying politicians children should be off limits is just not going to happen. In this day and age, NO one is off limits. The only way to make these sorts of things go away is to ignore them. The more people make a big deal out of them the more power they have and the longer they stick around.

4 years

He said it was aimed at her 18 year old daughter...but her 18 year old daughter wasn't there only her 14 year old daughter was at the game. These kind of jokes are in bad taste no matter who they are about. Sarah Palin provides enough humor on her own. There is no need to crack jokes about her daughters. If that joke was about my daughter I would be very upset. She has a point. Most girls do have low self esteem and comments and jokes like that contribute to that. When girls feel like men all think like that it makes them have low self esteem. People make huge mistakes in their life. Her daughter got pregnant as a teenager. So we think it's okay to make fun of that? That's not right. Everyone knows someone who has been in that same situation. Do you find it funny to make fun of them? That's nothing but being a bully. Let's just make fun of everyone who makes a mistake in their life because we are just so perfect that nothing like that could happen to us. People who choose to be in public eye have the jokes coming whether they like it or not but her kids didn't choose that so they should be left alone.

4 years

And what makes it ok if it was the older daughter! Man, Can I do David's wife? Is that funny. After all, when the old geezer letterman airhead is done making jokes, he has no energy except to open the geritol. And did Letterman's wife get knocked up by arod? Afterall, anyone with the airhead mentality of this jackass night show jockey, can't be bright enough to father a child without some assistance. How much did airhead Letterman ppay arod to do his wife. Are any of these funny? No they are not. But of course, I was talking about the neighbor two doors down. That jack@ss is lower than scum. And as close to relating to a child pervet molester as he can get.

4 years

Letterman makes the slut comment.

kell78 4 years

who said anything about "slut"? I actually agree that politicians childrens should be off limits I was just making the point that the joke was aimed at an 18 yr old therefore the term "rape" does not apply. That was all, sorry if I offended.

4 years

I love how everyone keeps referring to the 18-year-old as if it were better. You guys are hilarious. And then the Republican jab. I am so far from a Republican, yet I think your ignorance is astounding. Republican or Democrat, calling either a slut and then taking a jab at her daughter (either one) is not a joke in any form or manner. If he had made the joke about the First Lady or either of her daughters, we would be having quite a different issue.

snowysakurasky 4 years

i like him not love him... he can be quite rude once in a while, this doesn't offend me as a woman or a mom...

kell78 4 years

he was making a joke about Palin's 18 yr old daughter who, for the record, was knocked up as a teen. It has nothing to do with rape as Bristol Palin is 18 yrs old. The Republicans are always complaining about hyper sensitive political correctness, what would you call this?

mhg 4 years

someone show me where he is talking about rape? it's certainly not in this clip...i think letterman is brilliantly funny. is there some other clip about which people are up in arms?

Ericka 4 years

I'm with you Angelina. After hearing it, I never once thought he was talking about the 14 year old or rape. I also don't think he's some child predator like they're trying to make him out to be.

angelina8023 4 years

I guess the minority when I say Lettermen rocks. He meant it towards Bristol. I don't see what all the fuss is about.

4 years

He's such a dickhead. He's not funny and he's an arrogant bastard.

PiNkY PiNk 4 years

man, I knew there was something iffy about letterman! lol. no but seriously, his comments were inappropriate and his apology wasn't any better.

kurniakasih 4 years

Rape joke? I didn't watch the tape or anything. So basically in his 'attempt to explain,' Letterman is saying that it's not ok/funny to make 'rape' joke about underage children, but it's funny to make rape joke for women over 18?

runningesq 4 years

Wasn't it about her 18 yr old daughter?

TallTJ 4 years

I agree with the first poster, that was NOT an apology, and the Palin's have EVERY right to be peeved about the tacky joke, no matter which daughter it was about.

4 years

He did NOT apologize. He made a lame attempt to explain his pig-headed jokes, which are totally inappropriate under any circumstances.

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18 Comments