In 2017, during a reckoning in which powerful figures — mostly men — in Hollywood were held accountable for years of ongoing abuse, Louis C.K. was accused of sexual misconduct by five women, initially reported in the New York Times. According to Nevins during the August 2022 announcement, the reporters who worked on the story — Melena Ryzik, Cara Buckley and Jodi Kantor — would have been involved in the documentary as well. (If Kantor's name sounds familiar, it's because she was played by Zoe Kazan in the 2022 film "She Said," which detailed the investigative report on Weinstein conducted by Kantor and Megan Twohey.)
According to his victims, C.K. trapped them in his hotel room so that they could watch him engage in sexual activity — and they also alleged that C.K.'s manager Dave Becky intimidated them into staying silent. Shortly after the accusations broke, C.K. confirmed that they were true. "These stories are true," C.K. said in a lengthy statement admitting that he had abused his power over younger female comedians who hoped that he could mentor them as they tried to launch their careers.
After completely owning up to the behavior, C.K. closed his statement by saying, "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. Thank you for reading."
