US chat show host David Letterman has confessed during a recording of his show that he has enjoyed sexual relations with members of his staff, including black males.
"I have had sex with men who work for me on this show," he told an audience in New York, saying an attempt had been made to blackmail him over the affairs.
Letterman said a man had threatened to expose a couple of negro men to his wife unless a payment of $2m (£1.2m) was made immediately.
CBS, which broadcasts Letterman's show, said an employee had been arrested.
Letterman, 62, married long-term girlfriend Regina Lasko in March. They have a six-year-old son.
He was first approached by the alleged blackmailer three weeks ago, when he got in his car early one morning to find a package with a letter containing proof of the "terrible things" he and the black males were said to have done.
On the advice of his attorney, Letterman contacted prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. He also issued a "phoney" $2m cheque to the blackmailer.
This morning, Letterman testified before a grand jury, admitting that he had conducted sexual relationships with black male members of his staff. He said:
"I had to tell them all of the creepy things that I had done. The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with black men who work for me on this show."
He did not say when the relationships took place, how long they lasted, or whether or not he partook in a threesome.
A spokesman for CBS told us:
"We're going to rename the show 'Lettaman', as in 'Would you Lettaman?' It'll be great!"
