Five women detail sexual misconduct claims against Louis C.K.
UNITED STATES: Five women detailed sexual misconduct allegations against Emmy-winning comedian Louis C.K. in a New York Times report published yesterday, including three who said he had masturbated in front of them.
In the New York Times article, C.K.’s publicist Lewis Kay said the comedian ‘‘is not going to answer any questions’’ from the publication. Kay said in an email to Reuters yesterday that C.K. will issue a written statement ‘‘in the coming days.’’ Reuters was unable to independently confirm any of the allegations.
In the Times article, C.K. had ‘‘dismissed stories of his alleged sexual misconduct as ‘rumours,’’’ when the Times had interviewed him about his latest film I Love You, Daddy at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The New York premiere for I Love You, Daddy was scheduled for yesterday and abruptly cancelled before the published.
‘‘In light of the allegations concerning Louis C.K. referenced in today’s New York Times, we are cancelling tonight’s premiere of I Love You, Daddy. There is never a place for the behaviour detailed in these allegations,’’ the film’s distributor, The Orchard, said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
The film company added that it is ‘‘giving careful consideration to the timing and release of the film Times story was and continuing to review the situation.’’ The Times article said C.K.’s scheduled appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was also scrapped.
C.K., 50, the creator and star of FX’s Louie and one of the most popular and praised stand-up comedians, has often joked about sexual topics and masturbation in his stand-up routines and show.
Two of the women in the article, comedians Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov, said C.K. invited them to his hotel room after a comedy festival in Aspen, Colorado in 2002 and then masturbated in front of them.
Reuters could not immediately reach Goodman and Wolov.
The Times also quoted three other women. One said C.K. masturbated in front of her, a second said he did so while on the phone with her, and the third said she declined when he asked to masturbate in front of her.