Louis C.K. performed Sunday at the Comedy Cellar in New York City — his first such gig since he was accused of sexual misconduct by five women in November 2017.
The New York Times reported that C.K. made a surprise appearance at the comedy club, which he used to frequent, and performed a 15-minute set. He was apparently greeted by a standing ovation from the audience before his performance even began.
“I understand that some people will be upset with me. I care about my customers very much. Every complaint goes through me like a knife. And I care about doing the right thing,” Comedy Cellar owner Noam Dworman told the New York Times.
Back in November, five women accused C.K. of sexual misconduct, and two of those women said the comedian had exposed himself to them and masturbated. Shortly after the New York Times report, C.K. released a statement saying, “These stories are true.”
A lot of people expressed strong feelings about C.K.'s return to stand-up just 10 months after these allegations were brought to light.
Multiple women Louis CK pulled his dick out in front of lost opportunities to pursue their careers because this guy and his enablers wanted to keep them quiet https://t.co/1muHlsXr9T
Louis CK can eat shit
“The audience, a sold-out crowd of about 115, greeted him warmly, with an ovation even before he began.” Tell me again how men are being unfairly punished? https://t.co/g0bYN1COmL
Many wonder "how long" Louis CK should be "punished" for before he's "allowed to do comedy." Not sure, but 1) he's not been punished. 2) For non-famous men, each count of indecent exposure and false imprisonment (which CK's admitted to) carries a sentence of ~1yr in jail
Louis CK being "banished" from stand-up comedy wasn't some kind of petty punishment, it was a fucking workplace safety issue.
Another day, another famous man whose life has gone back to normal after multiple sexual misconduct allegations https://t.co/ZfCg7SLl7Q
Fellow comedian Michael Ian Black tweeted “people have to be allowed to serve their time and move on with their lives.”
Will take heat for this, but people have to be allowed to serve their time and move on with their lives. I don't know if it's been long enough, or his career will recover, or if people will have him back, but I'm happy to see him try. https://t.co/QmqdGJnIjy
“I don't know if it's been long enough, or his career will recover, or if people will have him back, but I'm happy to see him try,” he wrote.
Black went on to say that the #MeToo movement “is incredibly powerful and important. ... One next step, among many steps, has to be figuring out a way for the men who are caught up in it to find redemption.”
The #metoo movement is incredibly powerful and important and vital. One next step, among many steps, has to be figuring out a way for the men who are caught up in it to find redemption.
But many let Black know they don't agree with his argument.
“serve their time” 🤔 don’t know what’s going on in your world sir but here on planet earth, louis ck did not go to jail for the sexual misconduct he admitted was true. https://t.co/gDXMdUIyPY
It seems I missed the part when Louis CK “served time”. I just remember him living quietly as a millionaire for a less than a year. https://t.co/Z5STGzpOu0
@astridoverthere yeah, SUPER not a good look, Michael Ian Black. I am particularly grossed out by the bit where he *tells the assault survivor what she ~*ACTUALLY*~ means* https://t.co/yZ3w1piGrz
@michaelianblack MIB, just want to point out that it definitely hasn’t been long enough, because all outlets are saying “accusations” when he clearly admitted to doing these things.
BuzzFeed News reached out to the Comedy Cellar and representatives for C.K. and Black for further comment.