We don’t exactly talk a lot about James Lipton here at Celebitchy. He’s kinda old, kinda stuffy, kinda pretentious… you get the picture. So why are we talking about the “Inside the Actors’ Studio” host now? Well it turns out Lipton used to be a pimp. Yeah cue the theme song, I’m hearing it too. Wait, cut the music. That song doesn’t work with James Lipton. He’s more “Masterpiece Theatre” than “Hard out Here for a Pimp.” But a pimp is exactly what he was. Freaked out now? Yep, so am I.

James Lipton, the host of U.S. talk show, Inside the Actors’ Studio, once worked as a pimp in Paris, France. The revered TV presenter, who has sat down with Hollywood’s biggest names for in-depth chats about their life and work over the last 13 years, has revealed he once procured clients for French hookers.

He says, “This was when I was very very young, living in Paris, penniless, unable to get any kind of working permit… I had a friend who worked in what is called the Milieu, which is that world and she suggested to me one night, `Look, you’ll be my mec… We would translate it perhaps… as pimp.

“We were earning our living together, this young woman and I, we made a rather good living, I must say.” Lipton reveals in his new book Inside Inside he would set up sex shows for clients of his lady friend. He adds, “I had to accompany my clientelle to the Rue Pigalle, which is where these things occurred. And then I’d take them up to the room and I had to remain there because they were very nervous, they were young Americans for the most part… and they didn’t speak French.”

[From ABC News]

Oh my holy disgusting. No words to describe the feeling in my stomach. It’s stronger than revulsion, but not quite “I’m going to die from this knowledge.” But close. Really really close. What in the world would make James Lipton think it’s a good idea to share this with us? I don’t care that you’ve got books to sell, have some dignity man! I could deal with most of it, the pimping and such. I’m not really cool with it, but I’m oddly puritanical about pimping. But the staying in the room while young American girls had sex with Johns? That is just beyond anything I can take. I really wish I didn’t know this. I’m going to stuff it deep, deep into the inner recesses of my psyche and hope I never have to acknowledge any of this again.