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Louis CK admits to harassment allegations, FX and HBO cut ties

Louis CK admits to harassment allegations, FX and HBO cut ties

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The fallout from allegations of sexual misconduct against CK continues

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Film distribution company The Orchard has decided to cancel the release of Louis CK’s new movie I Love You, Daddy following multiple allegations of CK’s sexual misconduct. Following CK’s admission Friday morning, in which he confirmed that the allegations are true, television network FX said it had decided to end its relationship with the comedian.

News about the film’s cancellation came from Deadline. The Orchard also canceled the New York City premiere of the film yesterday, in advance of a lengthy New York Times report about the accusations against CK. The movie was originally set to open in limited release on November 17th.

The New York Times report yesterday detailed the stories of five women who said CK asked if he could masturbate in front of them, or just did so, either on the phone or in person, without their consent. A number of the women were younger and less established comedians who were allegedly approached by CK in a professional setting. The dates of the allegations range from the late ‘90s to 2005.

The fallout has been quick

CK released a written statement on Friday afternoon in response to the report, as shared on Twitter by New York Times reporter Dave Itzkoff. “These stories are true,” CK wrote. “The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.”

Still, the fallout from the allegations has been swift. FX, which hosts CK’s show Louie and the CK-produced series Baskets and Better Things, told Vanity Fair initially that its relationship with CK was “under review.” Today, following CK’s new statement, FX released its own response detailing the end of its association with CK and the removal of the comedian from all active projects, including Better Things, Basket, One Mississippi, and The Cops.

“We are cancelling the overall deal between FX Productions and his [CK’s] production company, Pig Newton. He will no longer serve as executive producer or receive compensation on any of the four shows we were producing with him,” FX said in its statement. “Now is not the time for him to make television shows. Now is the time for him to honestly address the women who have come forth to speak about their painful experiences, a process which he began today with his public statement.”

Actors Charlie Day and Chloë Grace Moretz, who both have roles in CK’s I Love You, Daddy, have backed out of any film promotion. Netflix also announced this morning it would not be producing the second stand-up special in CK’s two-project deal with the service. HBO announced yesterday that it was pulling any CK projects, including Lucky Louie, from its streaming service. The network also dropped CK from its upcoming comedy benefit, Night of Too Many Stars.

I Love You, Daddy was a controversial movie even before the Times report came out, but its content looks even more questionable in light of the specific allegations within the Times report. In the movie, CK plays a Hollywood producer whose 17-year-old daughter (Moretz) begins dating a 68-year-old filmmaker (John Malkovich). There’s also apparently a scene in which Day elaborately mimes masturbation while CK is on speakerphone with his girlfriend.

CK is the most recent high-profile figure to allegedly use his power and professional influence as a shield and justification for sexual misconduct. Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Oliver Stone, Amazon Studios head Roy Price, director Brett Ratner, and Dustin Hoffman, among others, have all been accused of various offenses of sexual harassment and assault.

I Love You, Daddy could presumably still be picked up by another distribution company, but given Hollywood’s response to CK, that seems unlikely right now.

Update, 1:26PM ET: Updated to include CK’s apology.

Update, 5:40PM ET: Added new statement from FX Networks. The headline of the story has also been updated to reflect new information.