David Letterman’s cue card guy, Tony Mendez, fired after assault: report
David Letterman’s long-time cue card person was fired last week after an argument with the host and an altercation with a staff writer, The New York Post reports.
Tony Mendez, who is often seen on camera holding Letterman’s jokes on old-fashioned cue cards, told the Post it all started when he was interrupted by writer Bill Scheft while trying to talk to Letterman in his dressing room. Mendez snapped at Scheft, which prompted Letterman to make a comment about Mendez’s “sour disposition.”
Mendez then shouted back “You’re the one who has the sour disposition, motherf—–.”
Mendez says he was still stewing over the argument the next day and thought Scheft was trying to create a wedge between him and Letterman. When he got back to work, Mendez immediately grabbed Scheft’s shirt and threw him up against the wall.
“He was very surprised,” Mendez said. “He didn’t say a word. He was cowering, his eyes were real big, he probably peed a little bit on his pants.”
Sources tell the Post Mendez will continue to get his salary as well as benefits until Letterman retires.
“Dave has never let me down,” Mendez said. “He is the best, the most generous boss I have ever had. Dave would never do anything to harm me.”