Like it or not, Louis C.K. continues to plug away at his comedy comeback. The disgraced comedian has recently been doing surprise standup sets around New York after he admitted last year to allegations of sexual misconduct. Now, fellow comedian Sarah Silverman has told a story similar to that of C.K.'s accusers.
Speaking with Howard Stern on his radio show today, Silverman said that C.K. masturbated in front of her when they were younger.
"I know I'm going to regret saying this," she said. "I've known Louis forever, I'm not making excuses for him, so please don't take this that way. We are peers. We are equals. When we were kids, and he asked if he could masturbate in front of me, sometimes I'd go, 'Fuck yeah I want to see that!'"
However, Silverman's story is different from that of the women who first accused C.K. of sexual misconduct in the New York Times. She admitted as much, pointing out that the acts were completely consensual — and that she was an equal of C.K.'s, so there were no power dynamics at play.
"It's not analogous to the other women that are talking about what he did to them. He could offer me nothing. We were only just friends," Silverman said. "Sometimes, yeah, I wanted to see it, it was amazing. Sometimes I would say, 'Fucking no, gross,' and we got pizza."
As for C.K.'s attempted comeback, Silverman understands why people have reservations.
"I'm not saying everyone should embrace Louis again," she said. "I believe he has remorse. I just want him to talk about it on stage. He's going to have to find his way or not find his way."
Silverman continued: "He wielded his power with women in fucked up ways, sometimes to the point where they left comedy entirely/ I could couch this with heartwarming stories of our friendship and what a great dad he is, but that's totally irrelevant, isn't it? Yes, it is. It's a real mindfuck, because I love Louis. But Louis did these things. Both of those statements are true. So I just keep asking myself, 'Can you love someone who did bad things? Can you still love them?'"
Speaking with Howard Stern on his radio show today, Silverman said that C.K. masturbated in front of her when they were younger.
"I know I'm going to regret saying this," she said. "I've known Louis forever, I'm not making excuses for him, so please don't take this that way. We are peers. We are equals. When we were kids, and he asked if he could masturbate in front of me, sometimes I'd go, 'Fuck yeah I want to see that!'"
However, Silverman's story is different from that of the women who first accused C.K. of sexual misconduct in the New York Times. She admitted as much, pointing out that the acts were completely consensual — and that she was an equal of C.K.'s, so there were no power dynamics at play.
"It's not analogous to the other women that are talking about what he did to them. He could offer me nothing. We were only just friends," Silverman said. "Sometimes, yeah, I wanted to see it, it was amazing. Sometimes I would say, 'Fucking no, gross,' and we got pizza."
As for C.K.'s attempted comeback, Silverman understands why people have reservations.
"I'm not saying everyone should embrace Louis again," she said. "I believe he has remorse. I just want him to talk about it on stage. He's going to have to find his way or not find his way."
Silverman continued: "He wielded his power with women in fucked up ways, sometimes to the point where they left comedy entirely/ I could couch this with heartwarming stories of our friendship and what a great dad he is, but that's totally irrelevant, isn't it? Yes, it is. It's a real mindfuck, because I love Louis. But Louis did these things. Both of those statements are true. So I just keep asking myself, 'Can you love someone who did bad things? Can you still love them?'"
