Comedy Cellar owner has a history of doubting that Louis CK deserved punishment

Slate

Comedy Cellar owner Noam Dworman has spent this week defending Louis CK's surprise performance Sunday night, saying “there can’t be a permanent life sentence on someone who does something wrong.” But, as Rachel Withers points out, "Dworman’s defense of his decision to allow CK back goes even further—it’s not just that it’s time to forgive CK for being a sexual harasser, but that CK isn’t a sexual harasser at all." Dworman has previously expressed doubt about CK's accusers, even though CK admitted to his actions. Dworman also has echoed CK's problematic statement acknowledging his behavior, in which he kept emphasizing that these women "admired me." Dworman has said, in CK's defense, "we tend to gravitate sexually to the people we admire." As Withers explains, "it's obvious Dworman doesn’t just think that CK has served his time, or that everyone deserves a second chance. He never believed CK deserved punishment at all. After all, this wasn’t a serious crime. And that’s deeply problematic coming from the owner of the Comedy Cellar—an important gatekeeper in the comedy world. Men can be shamed into hiding, or shamed out of letting Louis CK on their stage for 10 months. But too many still refuse to accept that there was anything to be ashamed of at all."