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Louis CK Returns To Stand-Up, Many Argue It Is Too Soon

August 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/WendyMolyneux/status/1034298875400441856

The most common joke on Twitter regarding the return of Louis CK to the stage is that– you think he would learn not to give a “performance” without people’s consent. It’s a joke that betrays the truth of the matter: the public was not completely ready for a Louis CK return, yet that is exactly what they got when Louis CK dropped in for a surprise fifteen minute set at the New York club, The Comedy Cellar on Sunday night. What’s striking is that CK, a comedian so known for his honesty and self deprecation, did not at all mention the elephant in the room, i.e., the various sexual assaults he has admitted to. Instead, according to the New York Times article that broke the news, his set was described as “typical Louis CK material”.

The fact that Louis, a comedian whose whole thing is plumbing the depths of his own psyche, apparently didn’t mention his most recent, famous news in his surprise set tells you all you need to know about his desire for “redemption,” right?

— Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) August 28, 2018

However, his return has raised questions: is it soon enough for him to come back, and the answer from Twitter seems to be conflicted, with users erring on the side of “no” to “absolutely not”. CK, lest we need a refresher, was accused by five women of trapping them and making them watch him masturbate. His manager, Dave Becky, then proceeded to threaten the victims into not speaking out against Louis CK’s sexual assaults. So again, after sexually assaulting women, CK was then complicit in the career destruction of these women.

Because if there's anything the man excels at, it's "surprise" performances pic.twitter.com/TtLr9uiAcY

— Megan Beth Koester (@bornferal) August 28, 2018

Cool cool so it was a drop in cool so the audience didn’t get a chance to consent to this shit either cool cool love my job love my workplace great to feel valued and protected!! FYI I ran the light at the Cellar once and that was enough for them to never have me back https://t.co/WMpUHbvGCx

— Emily Heller (@MrEmilyHeller) August 28, 2018

So, the question remains… should CK return? The answer is an overwhelming – what the hell is happening here, why is he back so soon! Even those, like Rhea Butcher, who think that CK should eventually make a return were flabbergasted that he made one not even a full year after the allegations broke.

https://twitter.com/RheaButcher/status/1034327979810123776

I’ve started almost every job worried I’ll have to work with a gross dude. I can’t imagine showing up to work and there’s a public-apology-was-required-and-now-he’s-just-here gross dude.

— Alison Bennett (@bennettleigh) August 28, 2018

among the many problems w/ the push to welcome Louis CK back is the idea he’s owned up to what he did. he acknowledged he did the things in the NYT article… he HASN’T acknowledged the fifteen years he & his team spent lying, story-killing and (in at least one case) intimidating

— Owen Ellickson (@onlxn) August 28, 2018

Imagine a world in which people cared about female comedians' comedy as much as they cared about female comedians' "hot takes" on the sex crimes of male comedians

— Megan Beth Koester (@bornferal) August 28, 2018

One of my fondest memories is singing my song about loving Louis CK right before he did a drop-in. The idea of him doing a drop-in now feels awful.

I believe people can grow and change, but this urgency to bring him (and others) back SO soon just sends such a bad message.

— Allie Goertz (@AllieGoertz) August 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/faithchoyce/status/1034331968261877760

I literally cannot think of anything crueler than not giving a white man a second chance with options for a third and fourth

— Megan Amram (@meganamram) August 28, 2018

One comedian who seemed happy for Louis CK to return was comedian Michael Ian Black. Michael Ian Black engaged with people in his @ reply, most of whom were disgusted with his take, and also showing he was not aware about Dave Becky going out of his way to harm the careers of the women, as he himself admitted in a statement in this Huffington Post article, which claimed that he thought the issue was a matter of infidelity. Meanwhile Gawker has been discussing this in blind items as far back as 2012.

https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/status/1034401081193836544

Cool, your attitude is making it less safe for women comics to survive in their chosen field without being sexually assaulted and then lied about

— . (@swordsjew) August 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/status/1034403809592848384

https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/status/1034404458510409729

Actually, he’s relying on the chummy goodwill of mostly male comedy club owners to outweigh the extremely real harm of sexual assault

— . (@swordsjew) August 28, 2018

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.

— river buddy butcher (@rivbutcher) August 28, 2018

And also: do you/we know the comics name that he do this to? No, we mostly don’t. But we know Louis. Has she been redeemed back into comedy?

— river buddy butcher (@rivbutcher) August 28, 2018

We are friends and I just wanted to bring up my view of the situation because I genuinely believe you could see it from my perspective.

— river buddy butcher (@rivbutcher) August 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/sasimons/status/1034457392983896064

https://twitter.com/sasimons/status/1034463016903790592

https://twitter.com/Dave_Horwitz/status/1034477238438125569

Louis CK’s return seems to be part of a trend, of the men implicated in the #MeToo movement making their returns. Chris Hardwick sort of bullied his way back into the spotlight and on his show “Talking Dead” mere weeks after his ex-girlfriend accused him of rape and abuse. Matt Lauer, whose button under the desk was meant to lock the door behind women to allow him to sexually assault them, was hinting at a return to television.Tj Miller’s been chugging along as if nothing happened. Aziz Ansari was reported, in a post now suspiciously taken down, from Vulture.com, of performing a set as well. Like Louis CK’s, the post did not address the elephant in the room, i.e., the sexual assault accusations from a few months back. Comedy journalist Seth Simons has screengrabs from the article.

https://twitter.com/sasimons/status/1033818461879689216

https://twitter.com/sasimons/status/1034293178193461248

People are not sure right now what is the proper way to move forward. However, until justice is done for the victims, and the careers that were ruined in the wake of the actions of these men are righted, then our concern for the Louis CKs of the world should be secondary.

https://twitter.com/JoeBerkowitz/status/1034478266869006336

But what do you think? Should Louis CK return less then a year after the allegations broke? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter at @WhatsTrending.