1. My presentation for Image Counseling is about Louis CK.

2.  Louis CK has been a successful comedy writer, actor and comedian for the past 25 years.  He wrote for several comedians including David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Dana Carvey, Chris Rock, and Cedric the Entertainer, as well as "Saturday Night Live" (which he also hosted four times) and other shows. He's a successful stand-up comedian and has had a few TV series and movies that he created and wrote.  The most successful one was "Louie" on FX. It was not just funny, but at times very realistic, and other times surrealistic. Critics loved it. I watched it and liked parts of it, such as his standup routine. The rest of it, to me, was not that funny.  

He has created, co-created, and produced many other shows, including "Better Things" and "Baskets," both on FX; and "Horace and Pete" on his website. Again, critics love these shows.

His stand-up comedy is very funny. He sold out Madison Square Garden 8 times.

He directed and starred in a new movie called "I Love You Daddy" that was supposed to premiere this month. He's also been working on an animated series for TBS called "The Cops" with actor/comedian Albert Brooks.

On TV, in his own shows, as well as on talk shows, Louis seemed like a very smart, witty, complicated person.  He was never afraid to make fun of himself or make himself look really bad, in order to go where he wanted as a comedian or storyteller.

3. As you know, many sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual assault accusations have surfaced lately, particularly in Hollywood, politics, and business.  I was sad to hear that Louis CK was named as one of them in early November by the New York Times because I've interviewed him a few times on the phone and he seemed really smart and funny.  Five different women have accused him of some pretty gross behavior.  His manager was also accused of harassing the women who spoke up about it.

I'm sure you all know what he did, but if you don't, feel free to Google it. Let's just say, he touched himself in an unsuitable way in front of women, or asked them if he could.

Louis CK admitted that the allegations are true. He said that he felt remorseful and that he realized that what he did and said was wrong. He apologized for the hurt he caused, and he even said that his manager was not to blame; that he was just mediating a situation he caused. He sounded very sincere, when I read it.

However, many felt that his apologies were not sincere enough and that he should have explicitly said, "I'm sorry." Also, he did say that he never did this to any woman that had not agreed that it was OK. Although he did admit that his position of power put pressure on the women to agree, that was not good enough to make up for that qualifying remakr.

Because of the allegations, his movie was shelved and his upcoming TV series canceled.

4.  Although most of us only heard about these allegations since November 9th, it turns out that Hollywood has known about them since at least 2012. Mentions have been made on the internet without specifically naming Louis CK, but hinting at who it might be. He was asked in an interview in 2016 about the rumors but dismissed them as if they weren't even worth addressing.  Less than a month later, Roseanne Barr mentioned him by name in an interview, saying that he was going to get in trouble for these things he does. She gave details, even though it had not happened to her directly.  In August a woman named Tig Notaro was interviewed about her new show, called "One Mississippi," which Louis CK is credited as co-producing. She said that they had "an incident" and haven't spoken since. She spoke at length about sexual misconduct in general and also accused him of stealing some of her material for his "Saturday Night Live" skit last year. The article also mentioned that Louis CK was a "known perv."

Still, these were rumors, so until Weinstein and the others were outed, not many people outside of their industry really knew anything about Louis CK.  Unless you're an avid reader of Hollywood gossip or of news specifically about Louis CK, this probably wouldn't have been on your radar at all.

5. Louis CK had been a fixture on Forbes' list of highest-paid comedians and earned $52 million in the year leading up to June 1, 2017.  Now his career is dead in the water...for now.

6.  He has a few different choices.  He can just go away for a while and then try to come back later. He can try apologizing again and hope that people will get over it.  He can do a combination of both of those things, or he can find a new line of work (or retire).  He probably has plenty of money, but he doesn't seem like the type who would retire.  Plus, he's only 50 years old.

I would suggest that he do a real apology and repeat it, over and over, to everyone, to make sure everyone hears it. Then he should disappear for a while, to give people time to forget about it.  Then he should do whatever he can to help women and work on women's issues, as well as getting therapy for himself.  Then he should try to get new PR management.  They can book him on talk shows, in a year or two, to talk about what happened.  Perhaps then, the public, and the women in the industry, will be ready to forgive him, and he can work again.

7. Unlike some of the other men who've been in the news lately for sexual harassment, sexual assault etc., Louis CK apparently never touched any women inappropriately or violently.  No one is suing him or arresting him for his actions. He's just seen as a gross creep who did some things he shouldn't have, which is, unfortunately, not uncommon for many men, particularly those with a little power.  None of the rumors had him doing anything to retaliate against women who rejected him (even though many in Hollywood seem to want to hush these things up or silence the accusers).  He's one of the most admired writers and comedians in the entertainment industry, so I believe he will have support and will gain back the public trust.

8. These are his accusers.  I'm not saying that what he did was OK.  A person should never touch someone else, or themselves, or say or do inappropriate sexual things, in the workplace, or in school, or anywhere that is not welcome by the other person. He did ask, but he shouldn't have asked.

9. Here are my sources.