Late Show Fires Staffer Amid Sexism Controversy

The Late Show's comedy booker has been fired following an uproar over his comments regarding women in comedy, the New York Observer reports. Last week, a New York Times profile quoted Eddie Brill as saying that "there are a lot less female comics who are authentic. I see a lot of female comics who to please an audience will act like men." He's been sacked for "speaking to the press without authorization," says the editor of comedy magazine Mirth.

The magazine's criticism of Brill's comments sparked a war in its comments section. Brill fired back with a lengthy post saying his words had been taken out of context; that prompted disagreement from the author of the original Times piece. Later, Brill offered an apology, the New York Times notes, pointing out that Brill had already faced some controversy over conflicts of interest booking talent. Brill will stay on to warm up audiences at the Late Show, Mirth reports. (More David Letterman stories.)