The 'Late Show with David Letterman' host addresses the issue in his monologue and reveals top 10 things that went through his mind after learning about the online threat.
- Aug 23, 2011
AceShowbiz - A few days after it was revealed that he is targeted for assassination by online jihadist, David Letterman used his late night show to respond to the death threat. Seemingly taking the issue lightly, he poked fun at the situation when opening the Monday (August 22) episode of "Late Show with David Letterman".
"We have a great audience night in and night out but tonight you mean a lot to me," he said in a clip from the first show he taped since learning death threat. "You people are more, honestly, than an audience to me tonight, really. ... You're more like a human shield."
"You're not going to believe what happened. A guy, a radical extremist, threatened to cut my tongue out. I wish I had a nickel for every time a guy has threatened to cut [my tongue out]," he quipped. "I think the first time was during the Academy Awards."
Letterman went on sharing that he came out onto the stage late because he was talking to a CBS guy about whether or not his insurance policy covers him for jihad. When informing the audience that State Department authorities are investigating the matter, the 64-year-old comedian jokingly pointed fellow host Jay Leno as the man responsible for this.
He further mentioned Leno on a list of people who hate him. Also included in the list are al-Qaeda, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, the "Late Show" staff, crew and home audience, Canadians, NBC, CBS, his neighbors, Tony Danza, and even dogs as well as squirrels.
His famous top 10 list that night was also devoted to the online threat. Titled "Top Ten Thoughts That Went Through My Mind After Hearing About the Threat", the list mentioned "How can someone be so angry at a time when Kim Kardashian is so happy?" on number 4, and "Some people get Emmy nominations; some people get death threats" on number 3.
The death threat issued by a Muslim militant against Letterman was unraveled by SITE intelligence group last week. The poster, who goes by the name Umar al-Basrawi, reportedly was upset that the comedian made a joke about the death of one of Osama Bin Laden's lieutenants, Ilyas Kashmiri.
"Is there not amongst you a Sayyid Nosair al-Masri (may Allah release him) to cut the tongue of this lowly Jew and shut it forever," the militant allegedly wrote, although Letterman is not a Jewish. "He showed his evil nature and deep hatred for Islam and Muslims, and said that Ilyas Kashmiri was killed and he joined bin Laden."
