Sarah Silverman apologises after saying she gave Louis CK permission to masturbate in front of her

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

In my reporting on women's reproductive rights, I've witnessed the critical role that independent journalism plays in protecting freedoms and informing the public.

Your support allows us to keep these vital issues in the spotlight. Without your help, we wouldn't be able to fight for truth and justice.

Every contribution ensures that we can continue to report on the stories that impact lives

Kelly Rissman

US News Reporter

Sarah Silverman has apologised after saying that she gave Louis CK permission to masturbate in front of her.

During an interview on Howard Stern’s radio show Monday (22 October), Silverman told the radio host that she gave the comedian consent to perform the sexual act.

Silverman said: “I’ve known Louis forever, I’m not making excuses for him, so please don’t take this that way. We are peers. We are equals. When we were kids, and he asked if he could masturbate in front of me, sometimes I’d go ‘F*** yeah I want to see that!’”

The 47-year-old added that CK has shown "remorse” and should be able to “come back” to the comedy scene following allegations of sexual misconduct by five women, saying: “I just want him to talk about it on stage.”

“I’m not saying what he did was okay," she continued. "I’m just saying at a certain point, when he became influential, not even famous, but influential in the world of comedy, it changes. He felt like he was the same person, but the dynamic was different and it was not okay.”

Following the interview, one of the women made allegations against the Emmy-winning comedian in a New York Times report, Rebecca Corry, was critical of Silverman's comments.

“To be real clear, CK had ‘nothing to offer me’ as I too was his equal on the set the day he decided to sexually harass me,” Corry said.

“He took away a day I worked years for and still has no remorse. He’s a predator who victimized women for decades and lied about it.”

Silverman apologised on Twitter: “Rebecca I’m sorry. Ugh this is why I don’t like weighing in. I can’t seem to do press for my show w/out being asked about it. But you’re right – you were equals and he f***ed with you and it’s not ok.”

The 47-year-old previously discussed the accusations against CK in an episode of her Hulu series I Love You, America, in which she referred to CK as “one of my best friends of over 25 years” before acknowledging that he’d “wielded his power with women in f***ed up ways.”

CK has recently attempted to mount a comeback, making multiple appearances at comedy clubs in New York. In one appearance, he joked about it being a "weird year" and said that he had lost "millions of dollars".