UNITED STATES
The Hollywood Reporter
August 30, 2018
By Maureen Ryan
Maureen Ryan: Once the industry has stopped enabling toxicity and begun prioritizing the needs of survivors, we can talk about paths to rehabilitation for abusers. Hard pass on Louis C.K. though: He used his comeback to do more damage.
I’m done with Louis C.K.
Yes, that’s right — I’m done with him forever. No more chances. No more second and third and 97th chances. I’m fresh out of chances. No.
All of you out there trying to engage me or other fed-up women regarding what Louis C.K. needs or why his professional career should be salvageable — nope. After what’s come to light about his recent actions, if you’re defending him, do it somewhere else. If you read this piece to the end, and you think what he did this week is OK, we’re never going to agree. Good luck with those conversations about everything except assisting survivors and changing toxic power dynamics. If you bring up what abusers need right out of the gate, I’m opting out of those discussions.
There are roads to restitution, reparation and change for those who have violated others, broken the law and ignored codes of ethical, compassionate and moral behavior. Those who do the hard work, those who do what they can to improve poisonous institutions and communities, well, I can be patient with those folks, even when the process is messy. Up to a point. As a woman once said, “Compassion without accountability and boundaries is a form of enabling.” Yep.
That said, I no longer care about whatever road Louis C.K. is on. At this point, I’d be happy if I never see his name again, anywhere. This wealthy, famous, connected man had so many chances — more than most people will ever get — and he fucked them all up.
For the 87 millionth time, if you’re frothing at the mouth to talk about what he might require, what you’re actually doing is consistently de-centering survivors and what they might need (again). Survivors of abuse, assault and harassment are often at risk for depression, PTSD, anxiety and other mental and physical issues, and there’s every chance their ability to pay for treatment is hampered by a lack of resources and support. Especially if survivors’ ability to work was affected by what they went through (and it usually is).
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