Bill Maher says it's time to welcome back Louis CK as no one cares about 'MeToo-type punishments' anymore

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bill Maher discussed comedian Louis CK’s potential return to the entertainment industry after being accused of sexual misconduct during the height of the ‘MeToo’ movement.

During his conversation with Bill Burr on a May 12 episode of ‘Club Random,’ Maher discussed Louis CK while praising Burr's promising future as a director, comparing it to CK's directorial achievements, both expressing their appreciation for the 2022 film 'Fourth of July,' which was directed, independently produced, and financed by CK.

For nearly two hours, the comedian and political commentator discussed topics ranging from self-driving cars to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Bill Maher says it's time to 'welcome back' Louis CK

Maher said in the episode about CK's film, "Don't get me started on that but isn’t it time everyone just went: ‘OK, It wasn’t a cool thing to do, but it’s been long enough and welcome back.’ Enough!"

"They took $50 million, I think they punished him," Burr said about CK. He said he lost $35 million a day because of the damage the allegations did to his reputation. "I mean for Christ’s sake, it’s not the end of the world," Maher told the comedian Bill Burr during their discussion on cancel culture.

"People have done so much worse things and gotten less," Maher told Burr, adding, "There’s no rhyme or reason to the #MeToo-type punishments."

The conversation between the two reeled, as Burr said, "It started off with something everyone could agree on and then quickly it just spun out. I mean whenever that cancel culture got to the point of where it was......'I don't like some of the topics in your standup act'.... that's when it got weird but that's all over."

"It's all over. That's what's over. Cancel culture, yeah no one cares anymore," Burr said as Maher replied, "That's so not true."

Maher has consistently criticized cancel culture throughout his career. In 2023, he acknowledged losing many "super woke" fans who disagree with his political views. Although he identifies as a progressive, Maher frequently satirizes what he perceives as the excess of the left.

Louis CK admitted to sexual misconduct

In November 2017, Louis CK admitted that the allegations made by five women accusing him of sexual misconduct were true, Fox News reports. 

Comedians Diana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov told the New York Times that the 50-year-old exposed himself to them in a Chicago hotel room in 2002. Abby Schachner recounted a similarly disturbing incident, telling the Times that she heard CK masturbating while they were on the phone in 2003.

Another woman, Rebecca Corry, said that CK asked if he could masturbate in front of her. Additionally, one woman, who chose to remain anonymous, reported a similar experience to the newspaper.

“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,” wrote CK in an officially released statement. 

Since the incident, CK was missing from the spotlight but returned by winning a Grammy award in 2022 for his album 'Sincerely Louis CK' and has since resumed performing on the stand-up circuit.

Internet slams Bill Maher and Bill Burr 

Bill Maher's assertion that Louis CK should be allowed to return to mainstream entertainment following his #MeToo scandal sparked significant backlash on social media.

Many users on X slammed both Maher and Burr for their comments.

One viewer shared, "He never really disappeared. He took a little time off but has been working again for a while. He also never did anything without consent."

Another observer said, "He already has lol, he sold out like 3 shows in a row at the garden."

One viewer highlighted, "I never thought he was very funny anyway."

Adding to the conversation, a follower contributed, "He’s worth $35 million, he’s not canceled."

A comment emphasized, "Bill Maher is so unliked by comedians that no one told him Louis CK has been back for a while."

Echoing this sentiment, another comment noted, "All the democrats who got caught up in #MeToo get a second chance. How sweet."

An individual further elaborated saying, "He's allowed. Doesn't mean people have to listen to him."

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