After Louis C.K. admitted to sexually harassing female comics last year, Netflix dropped its plans to produce his second of two stand-up specials for the streaming service. C.K. had signed a two-special deal, the first of which was released in April of 2017 before the New York Times had published reports of his behaviour. In November of last year, Netflix released a statement about C.K. saying his "unprofessional and inappropriate behaviour with female colleagues has led us to decide not to produce a second stand-up special, as had been planned.”
In a new profile in the New York Times, writer Jason Zinoman speaks with Netflix comedy bosses Lisa Nishimura and Robbie Praw, who he describes as "the most powerful gatekeepers in stand-up." In one particularly awkward moment, Zinoman asks Nishimura and Praw if Netflix would have C.K. back. What followed was a long pause before the publicist jumped in to cut off the question.
Then there’s the inevitable question of Louis C. K. Netflix cancelled a deal with him after he admitted to sexual misconduct. But would the service have him back? After I posed the question—weeks before he returned to do a club set—Ms. Nishimura and Mr. Praw paused to reflect. This extended into a minute before a publicist interrupted, saying they wouldn’t be able to answer.
Giving no answer to what should be an easy question is deeply concerning. After only nine months since C.K. admitted the allegations were true, he's already attempting to make his comeback. Last month, C.K. made his return to stand-up, doing a surprise set at the famed Comedy Cellar in New York. That was another instance of powerful gatekeepers in comedy allowing him a pass. Comedy Cellar owner Noam Dworman admitted that he got both complaints and praise from the audience after C.K.'s appearance, and mused to the Times that "there can’t be a permanent life sentence on someone who does something wrong." (Last week, however, Dworman told The Huffington Post, "I’m very upset with him because my life has been substantially affected and his life has not, and I’m not sure he’s aware of it. I’m not sure that he gave it sufficient thought.")
After that stand-up return, the question remains: Will studios, networks, and the public give these men another pass in a career full of passes, rather than, say, give an opportunity to someone else?
And by giving no answer, Netflix is leaving the door open for that to be: "Yes."
Matt Miller is a Brooklyn-based culture/lifestyle writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Esquire, Forbes, The Denver Post, and documentaries.
