Comedian Louis CK opened up about his past sexual misconduct during a revealing appearance on This Past Weekend podcast with host Theo Von on Friday (September 19, 2025), offering new insights into his mindset during the scandal that derailed his career in 2017.
The comedian acknowledged he was “hurting other people and trying to tell myself I wasn’t” when discussing the period surrounding the sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced seven years ago. During the wide-ranging conversation, Louis CK promoted his upcoming debut novel while addressing what Von referred to as the “accurate accusations” that disrupted his once-flourishing entertainment career.
The discussion revealed a complex emotional response to the public reckoning. Louis CK described the allegations surfacing as oddly liberating, explaining that when “life f–ks it up for you, when it gets torn up, it’s a relief.” This perspective offers a stark contrast to the typical damage control responses often seen when public figures face misconduct allegations.
The original allegations emerged in November 2017 when The New York Times published detailed accounts from five women who accused the comedian of inappropriate sexual behavior. The women alleged that Louis CK had masturbated in front of them without proper consent, often leveraging his position of power in the comedy industry. At the time, Louis CK released a statement acknowledging “these stories are true” and admitted to wielding his influence irresponsibly over women who admired his work.
The fallout was swift and comprehensive. Netflix canceled his planned second stand-up special, the premiere of his film I Love You, Daddy was scrapped, and FX severed ties with the comedian. However, his career gradually resumed, and he controversially won a Grammy in 2020 for his first post-scandal comedy special, Sincerely Louis C.K.
During Friday’s podcast interview, Louis CK revealed that despite his 2017 admission, it took him additional years to fully comprehend the impact of his actions. He described trying to “manage these problems I had inside of me for so many years” while attempting to maintain the appearance of being “a normal person” or “a good person.”
The comedian’s comments shed light on the psychological complexities surrounding his misconduct. His original 2017 statement had noted that he initially justified his behavior because he “never showed a woman my d— without asking first,” but later realized that “when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your d— isn’t a question.”
The entertainment industry continues to grapple with the lasting effects of the #MeToo movement, which brought numerous cases of sexual misconduct to light. Louis CK’s case became one of the most prominent examples of a celebrity acknowledging wrongdoing rather than denying allegations outright. The interview represents one of his most extensive public comments about the scandal since returning to stand-up comedy and rebuilding his career on a smaller scale.
