Bill Maher has called for Louis C.K. to be allowed to return to mainstream entertainment after having been brought down by a sexual misconduct scandal.
In November 2017, the writer and comedian was faced with a series of allegations from five female colleagues in a New York Times article, including that he masturbated in front of them. He responded to the report by saying, “these stories are true”, adding that “there is nothing about this that I forgive myself for”.
C.K. later cancelled the upcoming premiere of his film I Love You, Daddy, and had his ties with US channel FX cut after they conducted their own investigation. He was also fired from The Secret Life Of Pets 2, and had his work with HBO removed from the channel’s streaming services.
He took a break from stand-up touring before returning in 2019, and has since self-released a series of specials, as well as co-writing and directing the independent film Fourth Of July in 2022.
But Maher has said on his Club Random podcast that C.K. should be “welcomed back”.
“Isn’t it time everyone just went, ‘ok, it wasn’t a cool thing to do, but it’s been long enough and welcome back’. Enough!” he said. “I mean, for Christ’s sake, it’s not the end of the world.”
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Speaking to Bill Burr, he added: “People have done so much worse things and gotten less. There’s no rhyme or reason to the #MeToo-type punishments.”
Burr replied to Maher by saying that “they took $50million, I think they punished him”.
Maher, meanwhile, said earlier this year that he will be shelving a two-hour interview he did with Kanye West, calling him a “very charming anti-Semite”.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.