Louis C.K. Responds to Sexual Misconduct Allegations: "The Stories Are True"

Comedian Louis C.K. has responded to Thursday's New York Times report about how he sexually harassed numerous women. In a statement released Friday, C.K. admitted that the allegations are true and said he finally realized the negative impact of his actions.

C.K., who masturbated in front of multiple women without their consent, writes that he's remorseful for his actions and understands why what he did was wrong.

"What I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your d--- isn't a question," he wrote. "It's a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly."

C.K. quickly suffered professional consequences as a result of the Times story. Distribution company the Orchard canceled the release of his movie I Love You, Daddy, Netflix canceled a planned stand-up special, HBO dropped him from a benefit show and removed his stand-up special Oh My God and his sitcom Lucky Louie from its streaming and on-demand platforms, and FX is removing C.K. from his executive producer duties on all FX-produced shows he's involved in, including Baskets, Better Things, One Mississippi and The Cops.

When asked about the allegations as recent as September, C.K. had previously denied them, telling The New York Times that they were just "rumors."

Here's C.K.'s statement in full, via The Hollywood Reporter:

I want to address the stories told to the New York Times by five women named Abby, Rebecca, Dana, Julia who felt able to name themselves and one who did not.

These stories are true. At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my dick without asking first, which is also true. 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. It's a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.

I have been remorseful of my actions. And I've tried to learn from them. And run from them. Now I'm aware of the extent of the impact of my actions. I learned yesterday the extent to which I left these women who admired me feeling badly about themselves and cautious around other men who would never have put them in that position.I also took advantage of the fact that I was widely admired in my and their community, which disabled them from sharing their story and brought hardship to them when they tried because people who look up to me didn't want to hear it. I didn't think that I was doing any of that because my position allowed me not to think about it.There is nothing about this that I forgive myself for. And I have to reconcile it with who I am. Which is nothing compared to the task I left them with.

I wish I had reacted to their admiration of me by being a good example to them as a man and given them some guidance as a comedian, including because I admired their work.

The hardest regret to live with is what you've done to hurt someone else. And I can hardly wrap my head around the scope of hurt I brought on them. I'd be remiss to exclude the hurt that I've brought on people who I work with and have worked with who's professional and personal lives have been impacted by all of this, including projects currently in production: the cast and crew of Better Things, Baskets, The Cops, One Mississippi, and I Love You Daddy. I deeply regret that this has brought negative attention to my manager Dave Becky who only tried to mediate a situation that I caused. I've brought anguish and hardship to the people at FX who have given me so much The Orchard who took a chance on my movie. and every other entity that has bet on me through the years.I've brought pain to my family, my friends, my children and their mother.

I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen.

Pamela Adlon, who worked extensively with C.K. on Louie and whose show Better Things is executive produced by C.K., issued the following statement on Friday. "Hi. I'm here. I have to say something. It's so important. My family and I are devastated and in shock after the admission of abhorrent behavior by my friend and partner, Louis C.K. I feel deep sorrow and empathy for the women who have come forward. I am asking for privacy at this time for myself and my family. I am processing and grieving and hope to say more as soon as I am able."