Never Cape For Rape

White male #LouisCK fan,

I get it.

It’s hard to accept someone you once admired is now lost to you. Or, at least should be.

I’ve read every kind of mental gymnastic defense about his indefensible behavior. Defiance from men who weren’t particularly his fans rallying to his cause, inflating Louis CK’s stature and his work to some mythic proportion.

This is the TOTAL opposite of what your response should be in cases like this. Particularly if you claim to be a decent human being.

Here’s the rub.

You can’t possibly love #LouisCK more than black folks loved #BillCosby. Louis CK can’t come anywhere close meaning to you what Bill Cosby meant to us.

Louis CK’s contributions to White America can’t hold a candle to Bill Cosby’s regardless of race if Louis CK lived two lifetimes.

And WE let Cosby go.

What’s stopping you?

Understand. Black folks LOVED Bill Cosby. For DECADES. White folks too. But he was OURS. He was a legend not only in Comedy but Civil Rights, Early Childhood Education, ALL aspects of Entertainment.

He was a personal hero of mine. I mourned his son like a brother taken. But once I knew what he was?

He was dead to me.

I know is hard to let go but let’s face it. You didn’t give a fuck about Louis CK until you felt your own privilege threatened by these womens allegations.

If it spooks you? Think about YOUR behavior toward women. ALL MEN should periodically check themselves in this regard. Male privilege is a hell of a drug.

If you can STILL support Louis CK & his work knowing what he’s done?

How are you, as a man, not ashamed?

You sign off on his acts, you normalize this behavior. YOU are the reason men feel they can treat people this way.

Perhaps you are a sexual abuser too?

I sincerely hope that’s not the case.

Your anger is justified, but it’s misplaced.

Be angry at Louis CK, NOT at his victims.

Be angry at him as much as I remain angry at Bill Cosby. Be angry at him for robbing you of a singular voice that resonated with you, a talent or body of work you enjoyed but can no longer support in good conscience.

Be angry that men still believe that power and privilege give them the right to treat people this way.

Be angry that women, in particular, aren’t believed when they come forward and most incidents will NEVER be reported.

Be angry that every time this happens the perpetrator is not only emboldened, his justification for his behavior is reinforced. Perpetuating this culture of rape & abuse.

Be angry that ALL the women, a majority of gender non-specific people, and some men in your life, people that you love, statistically have been, or will suffer sexual assault in their lifetimes.

Louis CK isn’t a Comic legend, free speech advocate, or counter-cultural hero.

That was George Carlin.

Louis CK is a sexual abuser.

He’s a shitty human being that took advantage of his position that would be in jail (50/50) if he weren’t rich, or powerful, or white.

To remain defiant and support a man accused of sexually assaulting women with total impunity? Filled with hubris to the point his deeds start to creep into his comedy act…

Doesn’t make you a hero-by-proxy supporting him.

You are just a man as shitty as he is.

Never cape for rape.

Sincerely,

Ex-Cosby Fan

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