Louis C.K. Makes Light Of Sexual Assault Claims In New Stand-Up Special
“I like jerking off... I’m good at it, too. If you’re good at juggling, you wouldn’t do it alone in the dark. You’d gather folks and amaze them."
Louis C.K. has dropped a stand-up special available directly from his website, in which he jokes about the allegations of sexual assault against him, at one point saying he was “too good” at masturbating to do it without an audience.
Several accounts of Louis C.K.’s sexual misconduct emerged in 2017 as the #MeToo movement took off, as a series of female comedians alleged the star masturbated in front of them without their consent.
After a statement that admitted these took place, C.K. disappeared from the public eye until 2018, when he performed an unannounced stand-up spot at a New York comedy club. Last year, he announced an international tour.
Now, Sincerely Louis C.K. has appeared, filmed in front of a Washington D.C. audience. From the beginning, C.K. doesn’t shy away from his misconduct, opening with a joke about his absence.
“How was your last couple of years? How was 2018 and 2019 for you guys? Anybody else get in global amounts of trouble?,” he says (via Variety).
Later, he says “I learned a lot. I learned how to eat alone in a restaurant with people giving me the finger from across the room.” He then jokes about wanting to move to another planet, but settled on an international tour to leave the US.
C.K. returns to his assaults towards the end of the set, saying that women change their mind on what they consent to.
“If you want to do it with someone else, you need to ask first,” he says. “But if they say yes, you still don’t get to go ‘Woo!’ and charge ahead. You need to check in often, I guess that’s what I’d say. It’s not always clear how people feel. Men are taught to make sure the woman is okay. The thing is, women know how to seem okay when they’re not okay.”
He also compared the ‘mixed messages’ to slaves singing music while working.
“It’s kind of like a Negro spiritual. It’s sort of similar,” he says. “So to assume that she likes it is like if they heard slaves singing in the field and you’re like, ‘Hey, they’re having a good time out there’.”
Finally, he talks about how he jerked off in front of women to “amaze” them, as he’s really good at it.
“I like jerking off, I don’t like being alone, that’s all I can tell you. I get lonely, it’s just sad. I like company. I like to share. I’m good at it, too. If you’re good at juggling, you wouldn’t do it alone in the dark. You’d gather folks and amaze them.”
As per Variety, C.K. also touches upon topics like necrophilia, pedophilia, terrorism, the Holocaust and people with disabilities, joining a lineage of other male edgelord comedians.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Men can access anonymous confidential telephone counselling to help to stop using violent and controlling behaviour through the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.