We passed on this news the other night, but in case you missed it, comedian Louis C.K., who last fall confirmed in a statement that the stories of him being a sexual predator were true, made an unannounced return to the stage. The gross details of him masturbating in front of female comics were published by The New York Times, and he confessed to all of them. And then he disappeared for a while. But long enough?
His unannounced set at a comedy club this week did not please Kathy Griffin.
A) You know how many talented women and POC comics are knocking on doors trying to get some time in front of audiences or powerful people in this business? And Louis just gets to glide back in on his own terms? Gosh, does it payoff to be in the boys club..the white boys club https://t.co/hewlglA2a7
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 28, 2018
B) I'm so used to the boys club in comedy things like this don't shock me…but that doesn't mean situations like this don't make me angry and frustrated for the people who have struggled to be heard and seen in a business that appreciate diversity.
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 28, 2018
C) Just like executives at major companies have golf..which is where business gets done, men get promotions, but people who don't golf are left out…in the comedy business male comics hang out with each other and cover for each other. They write jokes, give each other gigs
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 28, 2018
D) And they also cover up for each other. It's a sick, cruel cycle and right now I can only imagine what the survivors of Louis' predation are thinking. All I know is we should all be outraged…the boys club won again…
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 28, 2018
E) Louis just went on a long vacation and didn't do anything to show that he has reformed/changed. He's a multi-millionaire who finally got some sleep after working nonstop for years. This is how we are making people are paying penance in the #MeToo era?
Fucking pathetic.
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 28, 2018
So the world of comedy (and whatever it is Kathy Griffin does) is just like corporate America, run by white men who cover up for and promote each other? That leads us to wonder:
Weird that a profession that's entirely dominated by liberals is so misogynistic and racist https://t.co/h8sHToZKLi
— Robert Kroese (@robkroese) August 29, 2018
As Jerry Seinfeld might say, “What’s up with that?”
Same thing with liberal Hollywood … we’re still getting #MeToo stories from Tinseltown — about women predators no less.
That NYT article says he got a standing ovation *before* his set. This problem is systemic. Our whole society doesn't want to deal with it. We just want to skip straight to the feel-good redemption part of the story.
— Lou Rovegno (@LouRovegno) August 28, 2018
Even worse? The audience at the Comedy Cellar on Sunday night didn’t know he’d be performing. It was a “surprise walk-on set.” Same MO, dude hasn’t learned a thing.
— Jackie de Long (@delong_jackie) August 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/callmethestick/status/1034540061377929216
We’re sure that comedy club was filled with conservative white men too, waiting to hear some cheeky jokes about Trump’s golf game.
A) How sheltered are you? Oh yeah, rich and famous level of sheltered. Also, there are plenty of successful women and POC in comedy, stop downplaying what they’ve accomplished. Funny people get stage time, end of story.
— b (@Kahshnkdjk) August 29, 2018
B) There isn’t some white dude sitting there behind stage going “is he white? No? Get the white guy”. What a childish and just plain stupid way to think the world works.
— b (@Kahshnkdjk) August 29, 2018
His creepy, crude, and jerky behavior shouldn't be a death sentence. You went through a similar incident some time back. No one was assaulted and no one died. I get your outrage Kathy but I want to know what he has to do to redeem himself and be forgiven. Serious question.
— Jon Baggio (@baggiosoccer) August 28, 2018
As a progressive liberal, I completely disagree with you. He made a several mistakes but he’s no Weinstein. I’m not a fan of the man but as a liberal figure in popular culture, you’re making us look like idiots. Stop, you’re no saint Kathy.
— Randy Marsh (@VittorioAV) August 29, 2018
It’s ironic that the woman who pleaded for a second chance after making a terrible mistake, would criticize a man who acknowledged his own. Louis is no saint, none of us are. But, he’s definitely not Harvey Weinstein. Cut him some slack. All he wants to do is spread laughs.
— The Kid From Buffalo (@CharlesSciascia) August 29, 2018
Can't agree with you here. People think you should've shrunk back into the woodwork after the Trump head thing.
Fact is you all benefit from your previous success. Facts matter.
— Steve G ?? (@steveg1425) August 28, 2018
Interesting that being funny didn’t factor into any of that. Maybe instead of stereotyping everybody you could try being funny for a change.
— Alexander Godwin (@AlexanderGodw17) August 29, 2018
It’s not that he’s not worthy or that it’s a boys club. It’s that you’re not funny….
— Holly Johnson (@HRiegsecker) August 29, 2018
You’re white too… enough with the BS white privilege crap already. BTW, you’re not funny or entertaining, so think about that..
— infamousedot™ ?? (@InfamousEdot) August 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/MENACELIVE/status/1034906322549071872
Simple solution. Don’t go to his shows, don’t watch his series, his specials, etc. But don’t try and tell the rest of us we can’t enjoy his work just because you’ve adopted a position we don’t agree with.
— Gareth Prite (@GarethPineCone) August 29, 2018
Everybody deserves a second chance @kathygriffin God knows how many chances we’ve given you to be funny.
— The Future (@thefuture1885) August 29, 2018
So, when is the liberal world of professional comedy going to tackle its own sexism and racism?
Related:
'TOO DISGUSTING': NYT's Louis C.K. exposé is out — and it might be WORSE than you imagined https://t.co/rvb68qaZ0n
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 9, 2017