Louis C.K is back. It’s about time, isn’t it?
Recently Louis CK has gave a surprise performance in Comedy Cellar in New York. The New York Times headlined an article ‘Louis CK slithers back, whether we’re ready or not’ and there has been numerous other media articles in different outlets expressing their outrage about the performance by the comedian. There has also been question on the impact of the whole MeToo movement following the performance.
But why is it so relevant?

Since, the ‘MeToo’ movement was first of its kind and many revelations have been put forward about many superstars in the Hollywood about their misconducts, the events that follow and the consequences are expected to set a precedence in the society. Due the popularity and outreach of the movement through the easily accessible social media platforms, the movement has been spread globally and developed its own branches in many different countries and cultures. So, the result is expected to spread worldwide setting the societal norms for tackling such problems and the right course of action to navigate our way through it.
The movement that started with American actress Alyssa Milano calling everyone to share their story of facing sexual harassment with #MeToo in twitter to bring forth the magnitude of the situation. One of the first culprit brought forth by the movement was Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein who remains the only accused who is charged successfully in the court of law. During the rise of the movement, everyone’s favourite stand-up comedian Louis was accused by five women of sexual misconduct. Comedians Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov said that in 2002 they were invited into Louis hotel room where he asked them if he could show them his dick and masturbated in front of them. Abby Schacher told that in 2003, during a telephone call to invite him to her show, she could hear Louis masturbating. Rebecca Corry said that Louis CK asked if he could masturbate in front of her which she declined. She also said in an interview that he said that he had issues after her declining the offer. The fifth anonymous women accusing CK wrote during the 90s while working on Chris Rock show, Louis asked repeatedly to masturbate in front of her and she accepted out of naivete and culture.
After the accusations and the media outrage over it, Louis has made a public statement accepting the accusations and said that he abused his power and the admiration these women had for him to his advantage. During all this Louis CK lost his contracts and specials with FX, HBO and NetFlix. His upcoming movie ‘I love you Daddy’ which was written, directed and starred in by CK was cancelled.
When is the punishment enough? Certainly, we cannot put all the MeToo cases in one basket and declare a universal penalty of life-long banishment from public. In CK’s case, the accusers have maintained that he didn’t force himself on them or touch them. Does that change nothing at all? Given that, workplace is not the place to bring up such things and given his frame the question may have seemed more like a threat what should be the proper reaction? Isn’t the role of society as a whole is too be impartial and weigh the both sides and come out with fair penalty and not to favor any side? Especially when it has been accepted that he did not break any law, isn’t it enough that the man has lost multi-million-dollar worth of his contracts and in movies and he will forever carry the burden on his name among his friends, family and society? None of his jokes and performances would be taken in same way, especially once about the nature of human sexuality, which is a big portion of his routine. Is that not so negligible? What is the extent of this mob justice and where would the society draw the line?
Also there is the question, why did the accusers chose to accuse after all these years and not at the time. Most of the accusers have said that they did tell about the experience to friends, co-workers and found compassion and support from them. Rebecca Corry even said that she had support of the show producers and had the power to choose not to work with C.K anymore, but she made a conscious decision not to shut down the production and go on with it. Then in such case, does that not question why come out complaining about it now? And more importantly, in greater sense, are all the women who are empowered and making career in Hollywood so weak and helpless that a person asking for a perverse favor traumatize them for life to such extent they cannot pursue their career anymore? Are we to believe that in this era women have not heard about much worse and horrifying stories of other women and keep it in the back of their mind that they can face similar situations? And if the gender of the accusers and accused were to be reversed, would it still be same situation? If not, then why not?
These questions might sound very obvious and stupid even but given the history and the direction MeToo movement have taken and the supports for feminist’s rhetoric that seems to envelop Hollywood, it is very debatable and forbidden questions. Regardless of the opinions in Hollywood insiders the audience mostly seem to be ready for the comedian to step back on stage. It is also supported by the fact that Louis CK received a standing ovation from the audience in Comedy Cellar where he performed. Then again, would the audience accept the similar jokes from him or would this be the last stretch of his career in stand-up?
Sources:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/arts/television/louis-ck-comeback-comedy-metoo.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/arts/television/louis-ck-returns-metoo.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_Too_movement
- https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/arts/television/louis-ck-sexual-misconduct.html