Louis C.K. was accused of sexual misconduct by five women in a New York Times report on Thursday; C.K.’s publicist, Lewis Kay told TheWrap on Thursday that “in the coming days, Louis will issue a written statement.”
Until then, a number of his fellow comedians come out with their own statements on social media. Many said they had heard rumors about his conduct in the past and voiced the hope that the recent wave of public accusations will prevent men in Hollywood and entertainment from continuing to get away with bad behavior.
“I dealt w/a lot of BS w/my show…I stupidly told people about incidents that happened and some people didn’t believe me, mostly because I was already seen as difficult by people,” wrote Cristela Alonzo, a stand-up comic and the former star and creator of a short-lived self-titled ABC sitcom. “It makes me feel better to see women saying things that happened to them and having people believe them.”
A number of male comedians also condemned the allegations against C.K., including “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander. “Gentlemen, comedy is often inappropriate,” he wrote on Twitter. “It is sometimes daring and audacious and shocking. But our behavior, in the real world, toward women – that doesn’t get a pass on inappropriate.”
Jen Kirkman, who had previously been linked to C.K. in speculative media reports, spoke out against him in a series of tweets. She also criticized the way people talk about sexual harassment and called out the “culture that damns [women] if we [speak out] or don’t or shames us if we have made peace.”
“Though he apologized for his one time comment to me, I will no longer casually call Louie a friend. I can’t support what I now KNOW are his contributions to the power dynamic in this business,” she wrote, vowing to spend the rest of the day using her platform to promote women in comedy.
See more reactions below:
https://twitter.com/iliza/status/928716679013597184
Goes away for a bit, gets therapy, then comes back with a while act about that sorrow and introspection and his fans will forgive and forget
— Iliza Shlesinger (@iliza) November 9, 2017
wow
i guess nothing will ever surprise me again
regarding menLouis C.K. – https://t.co/brUoHJT78y
— ROSIE (@Rosie) November 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/status/928745406460198913
https://twitter.com/elizaskinner/status/928744339706171393
Gentlemen, comedy is often inappropriate. It is sometimes daring and audacious and shocking. But our behavior, in the real world, toward women – that doesn’t get a pass on inappropriate.
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) November 9, 2017
Louis CK probably hates that he’s finding out the truth behind “the people you meet on the way up are the ones you’ll meet on the way down.”
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) November 9, 2017
I dealt w/a lot of BS w/my show…I stupidly told people about incidents that happened and some people didn’t believe me, mostly because I was already seen as difficult by people…
— Cristela Alonzo (@cristela9) November 9, 2017
It makes me feel better to see women saying things that happened to them and having people believe them…
— Cristela Alonzo (@cristela9) November 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/saraschaefer1/status/928752731115925507
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/928723944122621952
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/928724773265215488
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/928738065912180736
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/928738248532230144
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/928738773571051520
https://twitter.com/suesmith666/status/928742785905242113