Louis C.K. Releases A Statement: 'The Stories Are True'

Louis C.K. releases a statement

Louis C.K. released a statement today regarding his disgustingly abusive behavior that came to light yesterday thanks to a New York Times expose. Well, The New York Times piece is the first thing anyone has really taken seriously about his alleged abuses — but women have been coming forward for years, and he’s done nothing but try to silence them.

But yesterday, the shit really hit the fan. Harvey Weinstein, a way more powerful man than C.K. was taken down last month with a similar article. C.K. knew he was done. His camp cancelled the premiere of his new movie that was slated to happen this week, and also cancelled an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. After the story broke yesterday, C.K.’s team had “no comment.” But now — he’s speaking up.

“I want to address the stories told to the New York Times by five women named Abby, Rebecca, Dana, Julia who felt able to name themselves and one who did not.

These stories are true. At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my (penis) without asking first, which is also true. But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your (penis) isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.”

Really? You think it’s totally okay behavior since you said things like, “Can I take out my penis?” And when women who thought they were your colleagues laughed it off — because come on, who wouldn’t hope something like this was a joke — and you completely disrobed in front of them and started masturbating, you thought that was okay, too?

“I have been remorseful of my actions. And I’ve tried to learn from them. And run from them. Now I’m aware of the extent of the impact of my actions. I learned yesterday the extent to which I left these women who admired me feeling badly about themselves and cautious around other men who would never have put them in that position.

I also took advantage of the fact that I was widely admired in my and their community, which disabled them from sharing their story and brought hardship to them when they tried because people who look up to me didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t think that I was doing any of that because my position allowed me not to think about it.”

“Your position” allowed you not to think about it? So when comedian Abby Schachner called you to ask you to come to one of her shows, and you began masturbating on the phone — you thought that was okay? You didn’t “think” anything was wrong with that? Stop. Seriously. You made an entire career out of being the no-nonsense truth teller, and you want us to believe this bullshit? Maybe even congratulate you for being honest? For finally saying the “right” things? NO. Because none of this is right. You’re so screwed up you actually think this is an apology. It’s not.

“There is nothing about this that I forgive myself for. And I have to reconcile it with who I am. Which is nothing compared to the task I left them with.

I wish I had reacted to their admiration of me by being a good example to them as a man and given them some guidance as a comedian, including because I admired their work.”

You didn’t have to be a “good example.” You didn’t even have to “give them some guidance.” Literally all you had to do was NOT PULL OUT YOUR DICK IN FRONT OF THEM, ask them to watch you masturbate, or beat off on the phone when they were trying to have professional conversations with you. All you had to do was not be a lecherous predator. It’s not that hard. Women manage to avoid it every day.

“I’ve brought pain to my family, my friends, my children and their mother. I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen.”

You will “now step back and take a long time to listen?” No, you will step back and watch your entire career and legacy vanish before your eyes. And we won’t care — just like you didn’t care about silencing those women for so long, or destroying their dreams and creative spirits.

Fuck you, Louis C.K. Fuck you for being horrible under the guise of being decent, fuck you for abusing your power and pulling out your dick at every opportunity, and fuck you for attempting to have the last word.

Just, fuck you.