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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Letterman sorry over Palin joke | Letterman sorry over Palin joke |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US talk show host David Letterman has apologised for making a joke about one of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's teenage daughters. | US talk show host David Letterman has apologised for making a joke about one of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's teenage daughters. |
| Mrs Palin complained after he joked on his show that a baseball player had "knocked up" one of her daughters. | Mrs Palin complained after he joked on his show that a baseball player had "knocked up" one of her daughters. |
| Critics thought the joke was targeted at her 14-year-old daughter, Willow, but Letterman has now said it was about her sister Bristol, 18. | Critics thought the joke was targeted at her 14-year-old daughter, Willow, but Letterman has now said it was about her sister Bristol, 18. |
| "I'm sorry about it and I'll try to do better in the future," he said. | "I'm sorry about it and I'll try to do better in the future," he said. |
| Letterman made the joke last week after the governor took her family to watch a New York Yankees game. | Letterman made the joke last week after the governor took her family to watch a New York Yankees game. |
| Mrs Palin's husband, Todd, issued a statement describing the joke as "despicable" while the governor charged Letterman with "sexually perverted comments". | Mrs Palin's husband, Todd, issued a statement describing the joke as "despicable" while the governor charged Letterman with "sexually perverted comments". |
| 'My fault' | 'My fault' |
| Letterman told viewers on Monday night: "I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception. | Letterman told viewers on Monday night: "I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception. |
| "I would like to apologise especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke. | "I would like to apologise especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke. |
| "But I never thought it was [about] anybody other than the older daughter, and before the show I checked to make sure, in fact, that she is of legal age, 18. | "But I never thought it was [about] anybody other than the older daughter, and before the show I checked to make sure, in fact, that she is of legal age, 18. |
| "It's not your fault that it was misunderstood, it's my fault that it was misunderstood," he added. | "It's not your fault that it was misunderstood, it's my fault that it was misunderstood," he added. |
| A group of Palin supporters, calling themselves Fire David Letterman, is planning a protest outside the show's studio at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York's Times Square on Tuesday. | |
| Mrs Palin has accepted Letterman's apology, saying she hopes it will help change attitudes about men who joke about the sexual exploitation of young girls. | Mrs Palin has accepted Letterman's apology, saying she hopes it will help change attitudes about men who joke about the sexual exploitation of young girls. |