7 Guests Banned by David Letterman: The Shocking Stories Behind Late Night’s Most Legendary Blacklist

What really happened when David Letterman banned these seven notorious guests from The Late Show stunned both Hollywood insiders and devoted fans. While most late-night scandals fade away, the stories behind Letterman’s blacklist remain iconic—etched in showbiz history as cautionary tales for anyone stepping onto the famous stage.

It all began with quiet warnings among staff. Certain names were whispered with anxiety in the halls. Letterman, known for his cool on-screen persona, simply did not tolerate disrespect or disruption behind the scenes. One by one, these seven guests crossed lines that couldn’t be uncrossed—and were swiftly and decisively banned.

1. Madonna: The Chaos Queen Madonna was a repeat guest until a mid-‘90s episode spiraled into chaos. She arrived late, ignored the show format, and dropped so much profanity the censors struggled to keep up. Her barbs and jabs at Letterman live on air left the host visibly annoyed. After taping, insiders say Letterman called it “the most unprofessional performance he’d ever seen.” Though never formally announced, Madonna was quietly removed from guest lists for years—becoming a symbol of the Late Show’s limits.

2. Joaquin Phoenix: Performance Art or Meltdown? During his infamous 2009 appearance, Joaquin Phoenix showed up with a wild beard and sunglasses, giving cryptic non-answers and long silences. What first seemed like a nervous breakdown was later revealed as a character experiment for a film. Letterman, blindsided and annoyed at being used as a prop, never forgave Phoenix for making a mockery of the format—cementing an unspoken ban.

3. Lindsay Lohan: Tearful and Taboo Lindsay Lohan’s highly-anticipated “comeback” appearance quickly turned dark. Letterman pressed her on topics like rehab and jail despite her obvious discomfort. Social media erupted, some blaming Letterman, some defending him, but the backlash was severe. Insiders later revealed Lindsay’s team approved the topics, but the fallout was too great: Lohan vowed never to return, and Letterman didn’t object.

4. Andy Kaufman: Prank Gone Too Far Andy Kaufman’s legacy is pranks, but his Late Show appearance with wrestler Jerry Lawler went way overboard—culminating in Lawler slapping Kaufman in the face. Letterman, unaware of the plan, was furious his stage had become an arena for someone else’s feud. From that day forward, Kaufman was only welcome with full transparency—a condition that led to a permanent ban.

5. Bill Hicks: The Cut Segment Bill Hicks famously saw his controversial 1993 set about politics, religion, and censorship cut from air just hours before broadcast. CBS and Letterman feared backlash, and their decision sent shockwaves through the comedy world. Hicks never returned. Letterman would later apologize on-air to Hicks’s mother, but the late comic remains a martyred symbol of comedy censorship.

6. Crispin Glover: The Kick Heard ‘Round the World Crispin Glover’s 1987 segment remains a cult legend. Ranting about Hollywood and suddenly lunging a high kick at Letterman’s head, Glover seemed genuinely unhinged. David cut to commercial and Glover was briskly barred from ever coming back. The footage is still circulated as one of talk show TV’s wildest meltdowns.

7. Harmony Korine: The Purse Incident Director Harmony Korine cemented his fate backstage. Caught rifling through Meryl Streep’s purse just before a show by Letterman himself, Korine was promptly kicked out and banned for life. The story was kept secret for years until Letterman casually brought it up in a later interview, confirming Korine as persona non grata.