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The Malaysian Insider

Showbiz

Lindsay Lohan’s dad behind Letterman flub

February 17, 2011

Lohan appears in court in Los Angeles February 9, 2011. — Reuters pic
LOS ANGELES, Feb 17 — Lindsay Lohan’s father yesterday claimed he was the mystery “friend” behind a planned appearance on David Letterman’s TV talk show that involved the troubled actress.

Producers of “The Late Show with David Letterman” said yesterday that Lohan, 24, would not be appearing, as announced, because a mistake had been made. Initially, it seemed the talk show had been hoaxed by a prankster, but the actress’ father Michael Lohan later claimed responsibility.

It would have been the first TV appearance by the “Mean Girls” actress since she was charged last week with stealing a US$2,500 (RM7,750) gold necklace, days after leaving her fifth stint in rehab in three years.

“We made a mistake. Someone purporting to be a friend of Lindsay’s reached out to the show yesterday, allegedly on her behalf, and booked her to appear. Clearly, this person was not authorized to make commitments on her behalf,” Tom Keaney, a spokesman for Letterman’s production company, said in a statement.

By midday yesterday, Michael Lohan had told celebrity website TMZ.com that he made the Letterman booking after getting the green light from his daughter.

Michael Lohan, who recently repaired a strained relationship with his daughter, told TMZ that Lindsay “knew full well” about the booking. He said everything was going well until representatives for the actress got wind of the appearance and shut it down.

CBS announced on Tuesday that Lohan would appear by satellite to read today’s Top 10 comedy segment — which has recently had fun with Lohan’s numerous personal problems.

Lohan said in a Twitter message late on Tuesday that she was not doing the show and apologised for the confusion, adding “I’m not sure how this happened.”

Lohan, once one of Hollywood’s most promising young stars, is facing a possible three year sentence if convicted of walking out of a Los Angeles jewellery store in January without paying for the necklace.

She has pleaded not guilty to grand theft — the most serious charge against her in three years of failed drug tests, missed court appearances and brief spells in jail stemming from a 2007 drunk driving and cocaine possession offence. — Reuters