David Letterman on friendship with Howard Stern: ‘I just think arm's length may be the way to go’

David Letterman appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Tuesday, where he talked about Howard Stern and the feud that almost ended their friendship.

“In those days Howard was a shock jock. And I was always afraid of Howard. Because I didn't want Howard to say unpleasant things about me… But he did.”

Stern not only bad mouthed Letterman, but he also dragged the former Late Show host’s wife, Regina Lasko, into the mess. In 2018, Stern apologized on Letterman’s Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman. Since then the two have remained friends.

“I only talk to him about once a year,” said Letterman. “That's plenty. And the last time it was a mistake.”

Recently, Letterman thought Stern sent him one of his highly-coveted original paintings.

“There's a beautiful painting, a watercolor,” said Letterman. “And so I text him right back. I said, ‘Wow, Howard, that's unbelievable’. And then when I get home I call him. And he says, ‘Oh, yeah, I sent that to you by mistake.’ So I love Howard. I just think arm's length may be the way to go here.”

Video Transcript

[AUDIO LOGO]

DAVID LETTERMAN: I only talk to him about once a year.

JIMMY KIMMEL: Uh-huh. That's good.

DAVID LETTERMAN: That's plenty.

JIMMY KIMMEL: Yeah.

DAVID LETTERMAN: And-- and the last time it was a mistake. I'm--

JIMMY KIMMEL: It was.

KYLIE MAR: David Letterman appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tuesday, where he talked about Howard Stern and the feud that almost ended their friendship.

DAVID LETTERMAN: In those days, Howard was shock jock Howard. And I was always afraid of Howard because I didn't want Howard to say unpleasant things about me.

JIMMY KIMMEL: Right.

DAVID LETTERMAN: And-- but he did.

KYLIE MAR: In 2018, Stern apologized on Letterman's Netflix series "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction." Since then, the two have remained friends. In fact, Letterman once thought stern sent him a piece of his original artwork.

DAVID LETTERMAN: There's a beautiful painting, a watercolor. And it's something that Howard has done. And so I texted him right back and said, wow, Howard, that's unbelievable. And then when I get home I call him and he says, oh yeah, I sent that to you by mistake.

KYLIE MAR: Kimmel's viewers seemed pleased by the friendship updates and Letterman's candid opinions.

DAVID LETTERMAN: So I love Howard. I just think arm's length may be the way to go here.

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