Michael Ian Black had a no good very bad take on Louis C.K. returning to comedy with his “comeback” attempt at NYC’s Comedy Cellar on Sunday night, where he got a 15-minute standing ovation. Black sent out a tweet saying that he knew he would take “heat” for his statement, but that C.K. should be allowed to move on with his life and that he was “happy to see him try.”
Will take heat for this, but people have to be allowed to serve their time and move on with their lives. I don’t know if it’s been long enough, or his career will recover, or if people will have him back, but I’m happy to see him try. https://t.co/QmqdGJnIjy
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) August 28, 2018
Unsurprisingly, many people came out to basically tell Black that not only was he wrong, but the narrative around “time served” came up. It has been less than a year since C.K. admitted to various incidents of sexual misconduct. It’s difficult to see how C.K. and others have “served time” when all most of them did is retreat into their money.
It seems I missed the part when Louis CK “served time”. I just remember him living quietly as a millionaire for a less than a year. https://t.co/Z5STGzpOu0
— KB (@KaraRBrown) August 28, 2018
“serve their time” 🤔
don’t know what’s going on in your world sir but here on planet earth, louis ck did not go to jail for the sexual misconduct he admitted was true. https://t.co/gDXMdUIyPY— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) August 28, 2018
Imagine standing up in an office and saying these exact words to female employees about a manager that was let go for for masturbating in front of them. https://t.co/WCNaC8enSF
— Tom & Lorenzo (@tomandlorenzo) August 28, 2018
This is one of the most depressing comments I’ve seen in a long time. But, then, men never have a shortage of allies. Let’s not say “people” when what you mean is “‘men have to be allowed”. And no they don’t. It hasn’t even been a year. https://t.co/TQoyFV3r5X
— Gwenda Bond should be writing (@Gwenda) August 28, 2018
What time did he serve, Michael? What work has he done to right his wrongs? Where is the proof that he learned anything? Who says that he ever stopped harassing women? What are you talking about? https://t.co/n2idhPe82X
— jourdain searles (@jourdayen) August 28, 2018
What ethical, moral or volunteer work has #LouisCK done to deserve a comeback? Please remind me https://t.co/edL6vlVpE3
— Alice Driver (@DriverWrites) August 28, 2018
As an actual believer in restorative justice when it is handled thoughtfully, it is incredibly frustrating to see otherwise smart people interpret “took a few months off work” as “serving their time.” Let’s start with asking his victims if they feel Louis has made amends. https://t.co/nmuW7XsfLo
— Summer Anne Burton (@summeranne) August 28, 2018
As you consider whether Louis CK has “served his time”, here is an article about non-celebrity offenders who are literally shackled with digital surveillance monitors for decades https://t.co/aZwBITgHo9 https://t.co/PnTuMf3Etr
— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) August 28, 2018
Part of the issue surrounding Black and many others who defend men like C.K. is that they want to put redemption for these men—and hand-wringing over their “lost” careers—before prioritizing the feelings of the victims. As seen in this Tweet by Black.
The #metoo movement is incredibly powerful and important and vital. One next step, among many steps, has to be figuring out a way for the men who are caught up in it to find redemption.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) August 28, 2018
Do I believe in redemption? Of course. As someone who believes in criminal justice reform, and hell, as someone who makes mistakes, I totally understand the drive to not hold mistakes against people once they have grown beyond it. Especially since it overwhelming effects poor people and people of color. However, that is not what is happening here.
There is a defensiveness around #MeToo and it is as old as time, the idea that women are liars and will ruin your life with rape allegations. Nevermind that women, and people in general, rarely lie about rape, and that the major cases of false rape accusations happened not because of the accusations themselves, but a “tough on crime” mentality from police and prosecutors.
From somebody I admire and respect who DM’d me. She said I could post. I hear all of your voices and I’m really sorry to have upset so many of you. pic.twitter.com/qOqhF9eDXM
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) August 28, 2018
I’m making a donation to both right now. I think Talia did some great work today to make me defend a position that was, ultimately, not defensible. I understand that and, again, I apologize. https://t.co/nzx4nkODxq
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) August 28, 2018
Black realizing that what he said was a problem and taking steps to fix it by donating to organizations, promoting women in comedy and listening is the kind of work we want these men to do in order to “redeem” themselves.
Are we harsh on these men? Yes, but they aren’t going to jail. They are not even universally shamed. That harshness is the least of the problems and has not left a dent in most of their careers. We can have nuanced conversations about redemption and what lines go where, but that has to come from people not using every grey-area example to call out victims. We have to do better for those who have been harmed before trying to put more money into the pockets of the accused.
(via Twitter, image: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Town & Country)
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