Louis C.K. is back on Netflix, so here are the disturbing claims that derailed his career

Nearly a decade after the controversy that derailed his Hollywood career, comedian Louis C.K. is back on Netflix with a new stand-up special, Ridiculous. 

Although he continued doing stand-up, the release marks his first collaboration with a major streaming platform since 2017, when he faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

The new hour-long special, which premiered on June 30th, has been dubbed as Louis C.K.’s comeback, having spent years independently releasing his own comedy specials.

So far, the response to Ridiculous has been mixed – some critics are saying that the observational humour and shock comedy is on point, while others are demanding to bring back cancel culture. 

Wherever you stand on the debate, the new special has reignited interest in why Louis was cancelled in the first place. 

Why was Louis C.K. cancelled?

The comedian’s career came to a halt in 2017 amid the #MeToo movement, when the New York Times published a report in which five women accused him of sexual misconduct dating from the 1990s to 2005. 

The women alleged that in separate incidents, Louis C.K. either masturbated in front of them, asked to masturbate, or masturbated over the phone to them. All of the women were in the industry, and said they felt unable to freely refuse due to his power and the influence he had in the comedy world. 

Among the accusers were Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov, a comedy duo who landed their big break at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 2002. After, Louis invited them back to his hotel for a nightcap and as soon as they sat down, he asked to get his penis out. 

“And then he really did it,” Goodman told the outlet. “He proceeded to take all of his clothes off, and get completely naked, and started masturbating.”

The following year, comedian Abby Schachner recalled an incident whereby she had a phone conversation with Louis, and she could hear him masturbating on the other end. 

Fellow comic Rebecca Corry told the NYT that while appearing on a TV pilot with Louis in 2005, he asked if he could masturbate in front of her, which she declined. 

A fifth woman, who remained anonymous, said that while working on The Chris Rock Show, she met Louis, who was a writer and producer. He repeatedly asked her to watch him masturbate, which she agreed to, saying she was in her 20s, but she later questioned his behaviour. 

“It was something that I knew was wrong,” she said. “I think the big piece of why I said yes was because of the culture. He abused his power.”

Although he initially brushed off prior allegations as rumours, Louis admitted to them a day after the NYT’s report. 

He said in a statement at the time, “These stories are true. What I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your d*ck 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.”

For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page.

Featured images credit: Netflix