Maya Rudolph says David Letterman ‘embarrassed and humiliated’ her

Maya Rudolph has said David Letterman 'embarrassed and humiliated' her during her first appearance on his show.

The actor is known as a comedy icon, having joined Saturday Night Live in 2000 before going on to star in the hit movie Bridesmaids and Netflix's The Good Place.

She's also taken on a variety of more serious film and TV roles too, including the 2014 mystery crime Inherent Vice, directed by her longtime partner Paul Thomas Anderson, with whom she shares four children with.

However, the actor told Wall Street Journal that her career hasn't always been smooth sailing.

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Speaking about her first appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2009, she said: "I did not have a good time.

"He said my name wrong, and I just sat there, like, I grew up my whole life in love with you. And now my heart is broken. And I’m sitting here embarrassed and humiliated."

The 50-year-old star admitted that she 'didn't know how to handle it', adding: "I didn’t know how to come up with something funny to say. My public persona muscle wasn’t strong yet.

"I’ve definitely gotten much better. When I’m uncomfortable, I try to be funny."

Letterman went on to apologise for his blunder later in the episode, saying: "I’m sorry that I mispronounced your name. I’m just a boob, there’s no excuse for it, and from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely apologise."

UNILAD has contacted a rep for David Letterman for comment.

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Although he is generally considered a revered interviewer, this isn't the first time Letterman has faced scrutiny for the treatment of his guests.

Last year, he was criticised after a 2013 interview with Lindsay Lohan when viral, with many slamming his critical jabs at her struggle with substance abuse.

During the interview, Letterman asked her: "Aren’t you supposed to be in rehab? What are they rehab-ing? What is on their list? What are they going to work on when you walk through the door?"

He later added: "Do you have addiction problems? Is it alcohol? Do you drink too much?"

As the in-studio audience cackled at every probe, Lohan tried to answer each question, but did note how they weren’t mentioned in the pre-interview.

She also said she doesn’t believe rehab is a bad thing as it’s an 'opportunity to focus on what I love in life', and later said the host shouldn't 'make a joke of it' as it's 'mean'.

Among the many critical tweets, one read: "David Letterman thought it was funny to joke about Lohan’s substance abuse problems in this way? Wow. I’ve never seen this.

"It isn’t horrifying to watch now. This was always horrifying. And this clown thinking it’s fine to put her down this way. She’s a human being."