It’s no secret that there’s a bit of a rivalry between David Leterman and Jay Leno. The two late night talkshow hosts have been feuding for decades but Letterman said that it hasn’t always been that way.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Letterman talks about the origins of his feud with Jay Leno. Many people believe that the feud started when Letterman was passed over as the replacement for Johnny Carson. Jay was given the job instead and Letterman became the bitter old comedian that we know and love today. Well, Letterman said that that isn’t exactly how the feud started.

The late night host said that rivalry started largely because of Leno’s insecurities. Letterman said that Jay was one of the funniest people he has ever met and that he could never understand why Leno was so insecure.

Letterman said:

“We were always friends before all of this happened … I’ve never met anyone quite like Jay. And I will say — and I’m happy to say — that I think he is the funniest guy I’ve ever known. Just flat out, if you go to see him do his night club act, just the funniest, the smartest, a wonderful observationist and very appealing as a comic. Therefore, the fact that he is maybe the most insecure person I have ever known… I could never reconcile that.”

Letterman’s interview with Oprah will air on January 6, 2013 on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Letterman talks more about his feud with Jay Leno, as well as the sex scandal that plagued his marriage and his battle with depression.

Here’s a clip of David Letterman’s interview with Oprah. (You can see a clip of the talk show host talking about his feud with Jay Leno here.)