Five allege Louis harrassment

COMEDIAN Louis C.K, pictured, is the latest star to be swept up in Hollywood’s sexual harassment crisis, after five women claimed he masturbated in front of them.

The New York Times said the five made the allegations after “years of unsubstantiated rumours” about such conduct by the comedian.

Chicago comedy duo Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov said they were invited to Louis C.K.’s hotel room for a nightcap at a 2002 Colorado comedy festival.

They say he asked if he could take out his penis. They laughed it off as a joke. “And then he really did it,” Goodman said. “He proceeded to take all of his clothes off, and get completely naked, and started masturbating.”

At first “paralysed” from shock, both fled, they said.

Comedian Abby Schnacher said in 2003, during a phone call with C.K., she could hear him masturbating.

And a woman who spoke on condition of anonymity, described sitting in his office while he sat in a chair and masturbated.

Comedian Rebecca Corry said that in 2005, when they were appearing in a TV pilot, he asked her if he could masturbate in front of her.

When she angrily declined, she said he sheepishly told her he had “issues”.

C.K.’s publicist, Lewis Kay, said his client would not respond to any allegations.

The New York premiere of C.K.’s new film I Love You, Daddy has been abruptly cancelled.