Louis C.K., a controversial stand-up comedian, has a new album out. Sincerely Louis C.K. won best comedy album at the 2022 Grammy Awards on Sunday.
Nate Bargatze (The Greatest Average American), Lewis Black (Thanks for Risking Your Life), Lavell Crawford (The Comedy Vaccine), Chelsea Handler (Evolution), and Kevin Hart were all nominated for the award (Zero F—-s Given).
The comedian did not attend the ceremony, and his win was not shown on CBS. C.K.’s award was his third in the category, and his first since he admitted to sexual misconduct in 2017.
In his album, C.K. also laughed about the sexual misconduct charges, addressing what happened and how it affected his experience of being out in public after they were made public.
In a shocking 2017 New York Times investigation, five women revealed their encounters with C.K., alleging that he masturbated in front of them and others without their consent. C.K. responded with a long statement at the time, stating that “these stories are accurate” and stepping away from the spotlight.
At the time, the comedian said:
“The most difficult regret to bear is what you’ve done to cause someone else pain.” And I’m still trying to comprehend the extent of the harm I’ve caused them.
“I’ve had the good fortune to spend my long and successful career talking and saying whatever I want. I’m going to take a step back and listen for a long time.”
The reaction from his admission was swift: FX cut ties with C.K., whose series Louie and Better Things aired on the network. All of C.K.’s agents dropped him, and Netflix canceled an impending stand-up special, while HBO removed all of his work from its catalog. Orchard also postponed the release of his film I Love You, Daddy, despite the fact that C.K. purchased the rights to the title.
In 2018, he returned to the stage to tremendous acclaim, performing at NYC’s Comedy Cellar. Last August, a nationwide comedy tour was announced. Many comedians expressed their displeasure with C.K.’s victory after his triumph on Sunday, including comedian Rebecca Corry, who was one of the women who spoke out against C.K. to the New York Times. (She claimed that while filming a TV pilot in 2005, C.K. “asked if we could go to my dressing room so he could masturbate in front of me.”)
“‘Cancel culture’ appears to be a bit picky, hmm?” One of the more than 80 women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault is Sarah Ann Masse. “Thank you, too, to our industry for convincing us that survivors don’t matter once more.”