Louis C.K. is now facing new allegations of sexual misconduct from no less than five different female comedians. Throughout the last several weeks of reports about powerful men, in Hollywood and elsewhere, committing acts of sexual harassment, abuse, and other misconduct towards women and in some cases men, C.K.'s name has frequently been brought up - due in no small part to previous allegations of sexual misconduct that have been levied against him (going back to 2012). The comedian/filmmaker has been asked about the subject in various interviews since then, while his protege-turned-enemy, Tig Notero, referenced them in a recent interview that made waves.

Earlier this week, there were rumblings that an expose of C.K. was on the way - and ahead of that, the premiere of C.K.'s new movie, I Love You Daddy, was cancelled, as was his scheduled appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, amid reports that the New York Times was preparing a piece about the comedian. Now, that piece has arrived.

The New York Times reports that five women have gone on the record with accusations against Louis C.K. The accusations date from 2002 to the years thereafter, and all of them are generally consistent - that the comedian masturbated or otherwise acted inappropriately in front of them without their consent. These accusations are similar to those made in a Gawker story years ago; C.K. did not comment for the article.

The accusations come as C.K. was preparing I Love You, Daddy, a film he wrote, directed and starred in that, somewhat strangely, deals with the topic of a lecherous older filmmaker (played by John Malkovich) who the C.K. character worries is going to start dating his young daughter (Chloë Grace Moretz). The film, when it debuted to mixed reviews at the Toronto Film Festival in September, was seen by many as a reference to the career of Woody Allen, whom C.K. has acknowledged as an influence. What the accusations mean for that film, or other announced C.K. comedy, TV, or film projects, remains to be seen.

Louis CK

The C.K. situation is somewhat different from the many sexual harassment/assault stories that have made headlines of late. Unlike Harvey Weinstein, Brett Ratner, James Toback and/or many others whose longtime vile (and, in many cases, criminal) behavior is now in the spotlight, C.K. is known as something of a conscience of the comedy world - a man who may have dealt with his personal flaws in his comedy, but had a persona of likability and respectability.

However, it's important to remember that disappointed as C.K.'s fans may be about the news about him, those disappointed fans aren't the victims here, and the story isn't ultimately all about them.

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Source: New York Times