reaction
Former « Daily Show » host Jon Stewart opened up about his reaction to news that his friend, comedian Louis C.K., admitted to masturbating in front of women and using his influence « irresponsibly. »
On the « Today » show, when asked how he felt about the admission, Stewart said, « Stunned, I think. »
He continued, « You give your friends the benefit of the doubt. I tried to think of it in terms of, I’ve had have friends who have compulsions and have done things — gambling drinking or drugs — and we’ve lost some of them. Some of them have died and you always find yourself at a moment of, ‘Did I miss something? Could I have done more?’ And in this situation, I think we all could have. So you feel anger at what he did to people. »
WATCH: « Stunned. » Jon Stewart talks Louis C.K. scandal with @MLauer and @savannahguthrie pic.twitter.com/fXBGz7NkEK
Stewart conceded, « Look, comedy on its best day is not a great environment for women. The idea that there was this added layer of pressure and manipulation and fear and humiliation … I think it’s a question of, we’re used to being in charge, and I think if you talk to women, they’re in a very difficult position, and you get mad at yourself, too, for laughing it off or for thinking, ‘That didn’t happen.’ And it’s hard. »
Stewart also addressed a May 2016 conversation in which he dismissed the rumors about C.K. During a podcast taping for David Axelrod’s « The Axe Files, » Stewart laughed off a question about why he hadn’t spoken up about the rumors about C.K. and 서울출장샵 said, « So the internet said Louis harassed women? … I don’t know what you’re talking about. »
On « Today, » Stewart said, « I was like, ‘Look, I know this is very serious, but I know Louis, he’s always been a gentleman to me,’ which, again, it speaks to the blindness that I think a man has. » Stewart said that was the first he had heard of the rumors.
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The former « Daily Show » host said he hopes the explosion of sexual harassment allegations against powerful men will bring about change.
« It’s another one of those endemic, systemic and complex problems that we all haven’t had the urgency for, certainly myself included, » he admitted.