Netflix is welcoming Louis CK again into its fold.
The comic, lengthy topic to questions concerning rehabilitation and so-called “cancel culture”, will headline a present on the Hollywood Bowl subsequent month as a part of the streamer’s Netflix Is a Joke festival – his first main outing with a streamer since allegations of sexual misconduct on the top of the #MeToo movement. Later this summer season, Netflix may even premiere CK’s new particular, Ridiculous, which he directed and executive-produced.
The initiatives characterize the primary time that Netflix has labored with the comic since his 2017 particular Louis CK 2017, which premiered months earlier than a New York Times report wherein 5 girls, together with fellow feminine comedians, accused CK of sexual misconduct – particularly, that he uncovered himself and masturbated in entrance of a number of girls (or requested to achieve this), and that his agent knew about it. CK later admitted to the allegations – “these stories are true,” he mentioned – and mentioned that, on the time, he believed his conduct was acceptable, as a result of he requested first. “But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your dick isn’t a question,” he added. “It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.”
In the wake of the allegations, Netflix, in addition to FX and HBO, severed ties with CK, then one of the crucial well-known and bankable standup comedians within the US, as part of an industry-wide censure. The distributor of I Love You, Daddy, a movie CK wrote, directed and starred in – and which featured a personality pretending to masturbate in entrance of others – additionally cancelled its premiere. In a observe to followers on the time, CK promised to take house to pay attention and be taught.
CK started working once more, albeit at a decrease profile, inside months, igniting questions on rehabilitation and repentance, how a lot time is sufficient and what actually counted as “cancellation”. CK continued to tour the US and Europe and promote out massive venues similar to New York’s Madison Square Garden. In 2022, he was awarded a Grammy for the standup particular Sincerely Louis CK, which provided, because the Guardian’s Brian Logan wrote, a “not-quite apology – heavier on self-pity than concern for the women involved” which “won’t be enough for those outraged by CK’s behaviour”.
In 2023, the documentary Sorry/Not Sorry – which took its title partially from one other post-#MeToo CK particular – detailed the fallout for the ladies who spoke publicly about their expertise with CK, lots of whom confronted additional harassment and backlash. The movie examined how a lot public focus turned on the ladies’s reactions – which grew to become fodder for CK pal Dave Chappelle in a later particular – and never CK’s actions. “The outrageousness of what he did is totally lost in the discussion,” director Caroline Suh told the Guardian.
Meanwhile, CK’s profile continued to rise. In 2025, he appeared on fellow comic Theo Von’s common podcast This Past Weekend, and carried out a set on the controversial state-sponsored Riyadh comedy festival in Saudi Arabia – a call he later defended as “a good opportunity”.
CK launched his most up-to-date particular, Louis CK on the Dolby, in 2023, and his debut novel, Ingraham, final fall. Tickets for his set on the Hollywood Bowl go on sale on 6 April.
