Sarah Silverman apologizes for Louis C.K. story
Comedian Sarah Silverman is apologizing for an anecdote she shared about Louis C.K. masturbating, after facing criticism from a woman who accused Louis C.K. of sexual misconduct.
On Monday, Silverman was interviewed by Howard Stern and revealed that in her long friendship with Louis C.K. she occasionally gave him consent to masturbate in her presence, stating that as young comics they would sometimes let their “freak flags fly.”
The story comes in the wake of Louis C.K.’s 2017 admission that he had repeatedly propositioned women for permission to masturbate in front of them, disregarding the power imbalance that may have existed between them because of his fame.
Silverman said she didn’t share the story as an excuse for Louis C.K.’s behaviour and attempted to clarify that her situ- ation was entirely different from those of the women who accused Louis C.K. of inappropriate behaviour last year.
“We are peers. We’re equals,” Silverman said of herself and Louis C.K. “It’s not analogous to the other women that are talking about what he did to them. Because he could offer me nothing. We were only just friends.”
Not everyone was satisfied by Silverman’s explanation, including comedian Rebecca Corry, one of the women who went on the record last year about her experience with Louis C.K.
“To be real clear, CK had ‘nothing to offer me’ as I too was his equal on the set the day he decided to sexually harass me,” Corry tweeted in response to Silverman’s statement. “He took away a day I worked years for and still has no remorse. He’s a predator who victimized women for decades and lied about it.”
Silverman quickly responded to Corry with an apology.
“Rebecca I’m sorry,” she tweeted. “Ugh this is why I don’t like weighing in. I can’t seem to do press 4 my show w/out being asked about it. But you’re right- you were equals and he messed with you and it’s not ok.”
“I’m sorry, friend,” Silverman continued. “You are so talented and so kind.”
“Thank you. I know exactly how you feel. I can’t seem to live my life without getting rape & death threats, harassed & called a c-- regularly for simply telling the truth,” Corry replied. “I’m sorry your friend created this situation. We deserve to do our art without having to deal with this …”
Silverman also told Stern that she believes Louis C.K. now feels genuine remorse.
“I’m not saying everyone should embrace Louis again,” she said.
Later, Silverman added, “I believe he has remorse. I just want him to talk about it onstage. He’s going to have to find his way or not find his way.”
She said she believes he didn’t understand the implications of his behaviour, that he was undone by his inability to cope with his sudden fame and the power that came from it.
“I’m not saying what he did was OK. I’m just saying at a certain point, when he became influential, not even famous, but influential in the world of comedy, it changes,” she said. “Once he became powerful, even within his community, he felt like he was the same person, but the dynamic was different and it was not OK.”
In recent weeks, Louis C.K. has performed comedy sets in what appears to be an attempt to return to the public eye.
“I’m not saying what he did was OK. I’m just saying at a certain point, when he became influential, not even famous, but influential in the world of comedy, it changes.” SARAH SILVERMAN COMEDIAN