US
PBS Deletes Al Franken From Letterman Tribute
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PBS has edited Democratic Minnesota Sen. Al Franken out of a comedy tribute to David Letterman set to air Monday, after the comic-turned-politician was accused of sexual harassment.
“PBS will air an updated ‘David Letterman: The Mark Twain Prize’ on Monday,” the network told the Los Angeles Times in a statement. “Sen. Al Franken participated in the event, but will not appear substantially in the PBS program.”
“PBS and WETA, the producing station, felt that the inclusion of Sen. Franken in the broadcast at this time would distract from the show’s purpose as a celebration of American humor.”
Los Angeles news anchor Leeann Tweeden accused Franken of assaulting her during a USO tour to entertain troops in Iraq in 2006 in an essay last week. During a rehearsed kiss that Tweeden did not want to do, Franken “mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth,” Tweeden said. Later, Tweeden saw a photo of Franken placing his hands on her chest while she slept.
The tribute to Letterman was filmed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23, where the former late night host received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, one of the highest honors in comedy.
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