Louis C.K. Returned to Stand-Up Without Apologising and People Are Upset

Trigger Warning: This article discusses sexual misconduct.

Ten months ago, allegations surfaced that comedian Louis C.K. had exposed himself and performed sexual acts in front of five non-consenting women. He admitted that these allegations were true in a New York Times piece and then explained he "will now step back and take a long time to listen."

This week (and just ten months later), Louis C.K. decided that he had stepped back and listened long enough, and returned to perform his second (but first high-profile) show since the allegations surfaced.

Despite not being on the bill, C.K. dropped-in to perform a 20-minute set at the Comedy Cellar, one of New York's most popular comedy clubs, where he received a standing ovation.

The Comedy Cellar's owner, Noam Dworman (who was not there on the night and hadn't booked him) told The Hollywood Reporter that C.K. performed a pretty regular set with no acknowledgement of the actions that have seen him out of the limelight for nearly a year.

Given C.K. hasn't really done anything (publicly, at least) to address his actions, many comedians and other public figures were upset about this news.

(Warning: Some tweets contain coarse language).

louis ck getting a standing ovation for dropping in to a comedy club less than a year after admitting to sexual misconduct tells you all you need to know about how society applauds powerful men for doing less than the minimum of decency

— Aparna Nancherla (@aparnapkin) August 28, 2018

Yes there should be a path to redemption but I have yet to see one of these men find that path. For eg. just showing up at a club and doing a set to a standing ovation with no acknowledgement of your crimes... that is not the path. https://t.co/NmILBMJfkR

— roxane gay (@rgay) August 28, 2018

Counteropinion: Louis CK, once one of my favorite comedians, joked about his privilege and white dudeness on stage while, behind the curtain, using that privilege and white dudeness to sexually harass and harm women and their own careers in comedy. So he can stay in the shed.

— Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) August 28, 2018

I wish all the people crying “so Louis CK can never work in comedy again?” felt as strongly about all the women who could never work in comedy again.

— Jennifer Weiner (@jenniferweiner) August 28, 2018

It is absolutely insane to me that Louis CK went on stage, that a club allowed Louis CK on their stage and that more male comedians aren’t speaking out against it.

— andy lassner (@andylassner) August 28, 2018

"He was greeted with an ovation from the crowd."

It's been 9 months since #LouisCK admitted to sexually harassing women. Don't worry though, allegations destroy men's careers. https://t.co/HuSXX3ayLA

— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) August 28, 2018

In light of the backlash, Dworman explained that he would probably let C.K. perform again because he doesn't know what the "standard" is.

"I don't feel that there's a clear standard out there in the world of why someone doesn't have [an audience]," he said.

"I don't think anyone's come after the theatres and stages that allow Mike Tyson to tour the country with his show, and Bill Clinton still goes to parties. I would just like to be a platform.

"If I ban Louis, now the next thing is Aziz comes up, and I'm supposed to ban Aziz, even though I'm not sure.

"And before you know it, it becomes the automatic responsibility that all of a sudden it's not the court system, it's not the criminal justice system, it's not even a procedural HR system, it's that the guy who owns the comedy club is supposed to decide what happened, who's guilty, what the punishment is and make sure the world never sees this guy again."

Have you experienced sexual assault or sexual violence? Seeking to support someone who has? Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

Header Image: 3 Arts Entertainment