# "I Lost $35 Million in an Hour" - Louis C.K. Comeback **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101 "2018-10-17T18:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/101 "2018-10-21T22:41:11Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > Everyone, even one of history’s greatest monsters, does some nice stuff for people close to them, but Louis CK being generous to people who helped him silence his victims doesn’t negate that he has victims. I’m not really sure anybody is arguing that, though. Are they? I mean speaking just for myself, there is a reason I put “decent” in quotes. No good work cancels out or mitigates shitty behavior, it just is part of who they are. I once got into a short and mild argument here with someone who said a particular person was talented enough to get away with being a dick, which is not an idea I can ever endorse. Mobster Anthony Spilotro being a great dad to his son( and apparently he was )didn’t make him any less of a murderous criminal. Louis C.K. being generous doesn’t make him less of a manipulative creeper. But did he have any basic humanity as opposed to just putting on a show to preemptively shield himself from some future fallout? I kinda assume the former, though I suppose the latter is possible if he were truly a full-on sociopath. But I suspect he was more a pathetic creeper and manipulative asshole than a sociopath. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/102 "2018-10-21T23:08:09Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > Yes, it is certainly reasonable, and I agree that it would be a waste of time for you to respond, as there’s no reasonable comeback to it. Everyone, even one of history’s greatest monsters, does some nice stuff for people close to them, but Louis CK being generous to people who helped him silence his victims doesn’t negate that he has victims. The ‘but Hitler was nice to dogs’ defense is a bad one in general, and especially doesn’t work when there was a clear ulterior motive for the generosity. Before the situation blew up, Louis CK’s ‘generosity’ ensured that he had a whole parade of people including big-name comedians defending him and claiming there was no-way he would have actually done what he talked about in his routine. So no, I’m not going to take it at face value. Right. Because donating a quarter of your revenue to charities suggested by your fans is fairly similar to “being nice to dogs”. And ordering the deaths of millions of innocents is fairly similar to whacking off in front of someone. Totally reasonable comparison. Because they both had victims. And moustaches. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/103 "2018-10-21T23:28:37Z")
[QUOTE=Tamerlane;21279424But did he have any basic humanity as opposed to just putting on a show to preemptively shield himself from some future fallout? I kinda assume the former, though I suppose the latter is possible if he were truly a full-on sociopath. But I suspect he was more a pathetic creeper and manipulative asshole than a sociopath.[/QUOTE] Isn’t someone who is a manipulative asshole one of the defining characteristics of a sociopath? That said, Louis C.K.'s been in the comedy field for nearly 30 years. Were there any reports that he indulged in this type of behavior long before he was famous? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/104 "2018-10-22T05:47:52Z")
Funny is funny. I don’t need comedians to provide me with moral guidance any more than I need people who flip my burger to do so. I also don’t need someone to debase themselves with apologies to irrelevant parties. Compare and contrast this guy with John McCain. One apologizes for nonviolent offense to a few people and is loathed for providing an optional service. One doesn’t apologize for supporting mass violence against thousands and is loved for getting paid tax money from people who didn’t choose him. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/105 "2018-10-22T13:47:36Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Mike Vick went to prison for dog fighting and resumed his career as a NFL QB. There were protests at games after he came back with the Eagles. Chuck Berry installed cameras in the women’s bathrooms of his restaurants, and the City of St. Louis built a statue of him. Not to mention the Trumps and Kavanaughs of the world. Sorry if I don’t buy the “his life has been ruined” spiel when rich guys get some bad PR due to their heinous sex crimes going public. In hindsight, the public opprobrium rarely seems to be much more than a speed bump to their careers. I’m sure Louie CK will be back on his feet in no time. Maybe not at his previous heights of fame and fortune, but I doubt he’ll be hurting for money or, in a few years, work. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/106 "2018-10-22T14:07:55Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > I don’t need comedians to provide me with moral guidance any more than I need people who flip my burger to do so. Ahhh, glad to see someone else entrusting their bartender with this heady responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Nonesutch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@Royal\_Nonesutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Nonesutch)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/107 "2018-10-22T14:16:07Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I’m sure Louie CK will be back on his feet in no time. One might even say he’ll soon be hard at work, getting his creative juices flowing, full to bursting with enthusiasm and busy coming up with many fresh blasts of his pearls of wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/108 "2018-10-22T16:57:42Z")
**[Moderating]** > [@](#): > > Quoth **WillFarnaby** : > > Compare and contrast this guy with John McCain. Better yet, don’t compare and contrast him with completely unrelated politicians. John McCain has nothing at all to do with Louis CK. The only connection I can see you making here is “Well, people are talking about stuff here, and my opinion of McCain is stuff, therefore it fits”. This is an official Warning for politicking in CS and hijacking. To everyone else, making comparisons to political figures with sexual misdeeds, please leave that out of this thread, too. There are already enough threads for that. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/109 "2018-10-22T17:20:51Z")
another sports person , Mike Tyson, was in prison for rape and resumed his boxing career ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/110 "2018-10-22T19:00:39Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > another sports person , Mike Tyson, was in prison for rape and resumed his boxing career He actually went to prison, though. That’s pretty different from just losing some gigs and going back to one’s comfort and wealth. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/111 "2018-10-23T00:43:09Z")
If anyone can be a fucking jerk and pull off a comeback, it is a stand up comedian. He’s basically a clown, was never a role model, and playing with his wanger just makes him that much more clownish. OTOH (no pun intended), ewwwww. I don’t think I want to be the guy who pats sex offenders on the back and tells them it is all OK. I thought this guy was one of the funniest comics ever, but some things are just too unfunny. But then yet again, I am a Do The Crime, Do The Time kind of guy. Once people have paid the price, let them off the hook. I had no problem with Michael Vick, for instance, returning to football after prison because he Did The Time. Has Louis CK done that? I dunno. I am going to avoid him for now, and not judge anyone who still thinks he’s funny. He probably Is. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/112 "2018-10-23T02:26:32Z")
The problem is pinning down a “crime”. If he actually forced anyone to stay in the room, which I’ve only seen suggested rather than part of any official statement, that would certainly be a crime. But if he just asked “Mind if I masturbate i front of you”, he takes your befuddlement as consent, proceeds and you just don’t leave, then what crime has been committed? I’m not getting all legalistic here. He has plead guilty of being a disgusting shit in the court of public opinion. The problem is there is no one to decide if he’s “done the time”. iiandyiiii thinks a lifetime of indentured labour is the required penalty. My personal feeling is that some decent amends to his victims and a reasonable belief he won’t do something remotely similar again would suffice. There’s a lot of space between these opinions and there’s no judge to say who’s right. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/113 "2018-10-23T05:06:01Z")
Sure there is a judge, the Cyclops eye of Celebrity. I think this has dimmed his limelight, and it would be quite a feat if he could get it back. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/114 "2018-10-23T07:58:33Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I don’t think you have to assume there’s no decency underneath it all because of this. His exhibitionist predilection, for me, is just more pitiable than say a power abusing bastard like Weinstein. And afaik, the bad stuff CK did all happen a while back so it seems he was self correcting before it all blew up. The part that bothers me about Louis CK is his inability to understand what he did and how it hurt people. He used people so often as interchangeable objects for his source of gratification that he forgot which acts he did to which people. But those people have those abuses indelibly etched in their memory. Christine Blasey Ford explained in her testimony why abusive memories are etched in people’s memories while the abuser has long forgotten the incident. Louis CK might have committed the misbehavior in 2005, but Ms. Corry was again abused in 2015 by this communication. > [@](#): > > In 2015, a few months before the now-defunct website Defamer circulated rumors of Louis C.K.’s alleged sexual misconduct, Ms. Corry also received an email from Louis C.K., which was obtained by The Times, saying he owed her a “very very very late apology.” When he phoned her, he said he was sorry for shoving her in a bathroom. Ms. Corry replied that he had never done that, but had instead asked to masturbate in front of her. Responding in a shaky voice, he acknowledged it and said, “I used to misread people back then,” she recalled. > > The call confounded her, Ms. Corry said: not only had he misremembered the incident, which made her think there were other moments of misconduct, he also implied she had done something to invite his behavior. “It is unfair he’s put me or anyone else in this position,” Ms. Corry said. [NY Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/arts/television/louis-ck-sexual-misconduct.html) It has not even been a year since the NY Times article was published. Louis CK shows no indication that he understands why many women are outraged. He doesn’t even remember his bad acts. Many of his victims live with the painful memories, making them feel less safe, for a long time, sometimes for the rest of their lives. I’m not a paying fan of his, so I’m sure he doesn’t care what I think. But I used to enjoy his interviews and stuff I saw on youtube. Now I hope that his ‘comeback’ is unsuccessful, hoping that he’ll learn to understand how he hurt these people. > [@](#): > > In the late ’90s, she was working in production at “The Chris Rock Show” when Louis C.K., a writer and producer there, repeatedly asked her to watch him masturbate, she said. She was in her early 20s and went along with his request, but later questioned his behavior. > > “It was something that I knew was wrong,” said the woman, who described sitting in Louis C.K.’s office while he masturbated in his desk chair during a workday, other colleagues just outside the door. “I think the big piece of why I said yes was because of the culture,” she continued. “He abused his power.” Maybe if he has less power, he’ll be less abusive with it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/115 "2018-10-23T10:08:11Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > The problem is pinning down a “crime”. If he actually forced anyone to stay in the room, which I’ve only seen suggested rather than part of any official statement, that would certainly be a crime. But if he just asked “Mind if I masturbate i front of you”, he takes your befuddlement as consent, proceeds and you just don’t leave, then what crime has been committed? > > I’m not getting all legalistic here. He has plead guilty of being a disgusting shit in the court of public opinion. The problem is there is no one to decide if he’s “done the time”. iiandyiiii thinks a lifetime of indentured labour is the required penalty. My personal feeling is that some decent amends to his victims and a reasonable belief he won’t do something remotely similar again would suffice. There’s a lot of space between these opinions and there’s no judge to say who’s right. I’m not sure about the legal aspects, but this mischaracterizes what I’ve said. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/116 "2018-10-23T12:00:04Z")
FWIW: [Sarah Silverman Says She Allowed Louis C.K. to Masturbate in Front of Her](http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/sarah-silverman-louis-ck-masturbate-consent.html) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/117 "2018-10-23T12:20:57Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > FWIW: [Sarah Silverman Says She Allowed Louis C.K. to Masturbate in Front of Her](http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/sarah-silverman-louis-ck-masturbate-consent.html) When one of Louis’ victims called Silverman out on the comments, she later went on to say: > [@](#): > > Silverman later said she regretted saying anything at all, and expressed support for Corry, to whom Louis C.K. apologized in a confession of sexual misconduct in November 2017. “You were equals and he fucked with you and it’s not ok. I’m sorry, friend,” Silverman wrote. > **[Louis C.K. Accuser Calls Out Sarah Silverman For Defending 'Predator'](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sarah-silverman-louis-ck-rebecca-corry_n_5bcee44ae4b0d38b587be9b1)** > > C.K. "victimized women for decades and lied about it,” comedian Rebecca Corry said after Silverman revealed she let her friend masturbate in front of her. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/118 "2018-10-23T13:43:21Z")
More from Rebecca Corry, a woman who spoke out about Louis CK. This was 6 months after the NY Times article. She was and probably still is receiving backlash, including death threats and more shame. > [@](#): > > it’s become clear that many people have no understanding of just how extensive and complicated the ramifications of what C.K. did have been, and continue to be. They didn’t end the day it happened and won’t end any time soon for me, a comedian who has now spoken out against one of her own > . . . > Since speaking out, I’ve experienced vicious and swift backlash from women and men, in and out of the comedy community. I’ve received death threats, been berated, judged, ridiculed, dismissed, shamed, and attacked​. Her opinion about Louis CK’s ‘comeback’. > [@](#): > > Now I’m being asked if I think C.K. will make a “comeback.” The idea that C.K. reentering the public eye would ever be considered a “comeback” story is disturbing. The guy exploited his position of power to abuse women. A “comeback” implies he’s the underdog and victim, and he is neither. C.K. is a rich, powerful man who was fully aware that his actions were wrong. Yet he chose to behave grotesquely simply because he could. The only issue that matters is whether he will choose to stop abusing women. The Time’s Up and #MeToo movements, and the journalists who cover them, would do well to focus on the people struggling in the aftermath, and less on the celebrities attaching themselves to the movement and salacious clickbait details. Everyone deserves to do their job without fear of being forced into an impossible situation. And no one should ever be attacked or judged for standing up for themselves. [Louis C.K. Put Me in a Lose-Lose Situation](http://www.vulture.com/2018/05/louis-c-k-put-me-in-a-lose-lose-situation.html) Not only did she have to suffer from his abuse when it happened, she’s also suffering from the position he put her in presently. The victims of abuse are too easily forgotten in these stories. To be thinking about Louis CK’s comeback while forgetting about the continuing damage to his victim’s lives is inequitable. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/119 "2018-10-25T22:27:40Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > FWIW: [Sarah Silverman Says She Allowed Louis C.K. to Masturbate in Front of Her](http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/sarah-silverman-louis-ck-masturbate-consent.html) Well, I guess that answers my question from Post #103. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101/120 "2018-10-29T16:11:10Z")
I often listen to comedy channels on Sirius XM, and LCK was one of the recorded segments today. He had not been on at all for a long time, although this is not the first time back. It was old material from when he was married. All of his routines seem to eventually get to masturbation. And it is just weird to listen to now, because he is not an average normal guy just masturbating, and I wonder how he will handle his favorite topic in the future? For me, there are enough comedians and channels that I do not have to listen to him, as I was never a great fan in the first place. I do not like it when male or female comedians get deeply personal about topics like masturbation. Life stories is another thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-35-million-in-an-hour-louis-c-k-comeback/823101.md?page=7)