A cue-card holder for CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman says he lost his job after getting into a physical altercation with a co-worker.
Tony Mendez says he grabbed a writer for the show, Bill Scheft, by the shirt on Oct. 9, which resulted in his dismissal, the New York Post reports.
69-year-old Mendez, who says Letterman wasn’t aware of the conflict between him and Scheft, told the Post that the outburst had been “coming for a long time.” Scheft declined to comment to the Post.
“I know I shouldn’t have put my hands on him,” Mendez said.
A spokesperson for Worldwide Pants, Letterman’s production company, declined to comment on the matter, according to the Associated Press.
Mendez joined Late Show in 1993.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Nolan Feeney at nolan.feeney@time.com