Louis CK returns to Netflix with his new stand-up special “Ridiculous,” premiering on the streamer this summer.
The comic will also headline the Hollywood Bowl on May 5th as part of Netflix Is a Joke Fest.
CK has been touring in this new time for nearly a year, headlining theaters, arenas, and even small stadiums across the United States. “Ridiculous” will be his first special released by a major distribution company since 2017, when he last partnered with Netflix. CK has released his last four specials independently in the wake of the sexual misconduct scandal that derailed his relationship with mainstream Hollywood.
In 2017, the New York Times published allegations of sexual misconduct against C.K. by five women, some of whom said he masturbated in front of them. Shortly after, CK issued a statement apologizing and acknowledging his actions, writing, “These stories are true.” According to the manga, he initially thought, “I’ve never shown my penis to a woman without asking, so it’s okay,” but then he realized that there was an inherent power relationship between him and women, and said, “I was using that power irresponsibly.”
After the #MeToo scandal, Netflix and FX severed ties with CK, and HBO dropped him from television events and removed his past specials from its on-demand library. His manager dropped him as a client, the release of his film “I Love You Daddy” was canceled, and his animation project “The Cops” was canceled.
After being largely absent from the public eye for several years, CK returned with surprise sets at comedy clubs, often drawing standing ovations and online backlash. He self-released a special “Sincerely Louis CK” on his website in 2020, addressing the controversy in the first few minutes of his set. CK followed this up with three independent specials: “Sorry” in 2021, and “Louis CK at The Dolby” and “Back to the Garden” in 2023.
Although CK has been able to draw audiences at major venues around the world for years after the scandal, “Ridiculous,” which will be available on Netflix, marks his first major return to Hollywood.
