Sarah Silverman Image by Getty Images

Sarah Silverman spoke on Howard Stern’s show on Monday about how Louis C.K. masturbated in front of her with her consent. Referencing his non-consensual masturbation in front of other women, she said, “I believe he has remorse. I just want him to talk about it on stage. He’s going to have to find his way or not find his way.” That evening, one of the women C.K. harassed responded to Silverman’s interview by tweeting about the comedian: “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 apologized directly.

Here’s their full interaction:

Rebecca I’m sorry. Ugh this is why I don’t like weighing in. I can’t seem to do press 4 my show w/out being asked about it. But you’re right- you were equals and he fucked with you and it’s not ok. I’m sorry, friend. You are so talented and so kind.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) October 22, 2018

Ladies and…just ladies, actually. Other people, just sit down. Let’s take a look at this situation: Sarah Silverman, who has already spoken decisively against C.K.’s crime in spite of their decades of friendship, was just trying to promote her own work when she was asked about her experiences. She told the truth about her experiences and opinions, and inadvertently hurt Rebecca Corry.

According to Silverman, “When we were kids, and [C.K.] asked if he could masturbate in front of me, sometimes I’d go: ‘F*ck yeah, I want to see that!” (Silverman and C.K. have been friends since their early years in comedy, likely by “kids,” she means her 20s.) “I’m not making excuses for him, so please don’t take this that way,” she explained. “It’s not analogous to the other women that are talking about what he did to them. He could offer me nothing.”

Corry, one of five women who accused C.K. of harassment in the New York Times — harassment C.K. later acknowledged — responded that she was no less C.K.’s equal at the time of her harassment, and that she doesn’t believe him to be remorseful.

Corry, and the other four women whom C.K. harassed, lived with their experiences for years, too afraid to speak and maligned when they did.

Silverman, who works to see the spark of the divine in every person, accidentally hurt Corry (and perhaps those other women) while trying to promote her art.

Can we all agree that the person who should be apologizing is Louis C.K.?

“I believe he has remorse,” Silverman told Stern. That’s nice to say, but C.K. actually hasn’t apologized. He didn’t apologize in the statement he published in the Times acknowledging the harassment. He didn’t apologize to any of his victims. And he didn’t apologize to his fans.

If that’s remorse, it’s a funny way of showing it. Not so funny you’d pay to hear it in a comedy club, you know? He should probably put his apology online for free — like everyone else.

Jenny Singer is the deputy lifestyle editor for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. We’re near the end of our Passover Fundraising Drive, and we have a very ambitious goal of $127,000 by April 21.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a Passover gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Make a Passover Gift Today!

$90 $180

$360

Other amount