Al Franken’s contribution has been cut from an upcoming PBS special honoring David Letterman, Variety reports. The former Saturday Night Live star and current senator will be edited out of tomorrow night’s broadcast of The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor Salutes David Letterman, which was originally recorded last month, before sexual harassment allegations against Franken came to light.
Franken has been accused of sexual misconduct by news anchor Leeann Tweeden, who says he forcibly kissed her during what was supposed to be a rehearsal for a USO show sketch, and circulated a picture in which Franken smiled for the camera while grabbing her breasts while she was asleep. Franken has apologized for his behavior and called for an ethics investigation into his own actions; meanwhile, both his political opponents and his comedy peers (including his old colleagues at SNL) have been taking frequent shots at the Minnesota senator since the story broke.