Three Comedians, Three Apologies
Recently my friend tipped me off to an IFC presentation of Sorry/Not Sorry, a new documentary about Louis C.K.'s sexual misconduct, his response, and the fallout for everyone involved. I worried it would be extreme negligence to not watch a film with the same name as my column.
And I was right! The screening inspired my latest installment, which looks at three comedians (Shane Gillis, Louis C.K., and Dan Harmon) and the spectrum of sorrys they offered. My belief is they represent, to a certain extent, the options available to public figures these days—and why it's too bad most don't put in the effort for a sincere and thorough apology.
You can read it here: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/three-comedians-three-apologies/
Was I fair to these three? Should comedians get more leeway because it's their job to poke at the boundaries of polite society? Is that or should that be their job? Email me back, let me know what you think. Or just tell me a joke. I'll share the best reply in my next email.
Thanks for reading!
P.S. This Wednesday March 13th I'll be doing a panel discussion at the City College of New York with Dr. Christina Greer (a co-fellow of mine at the Moynihan Center) and Walter Shapiro (former speechwriter for Jimmy Carter, longtime campaign reporter for The New Republic) about "Political Messaging and the 2024 Election." I'll make the same offer to you that I made to my students: you can get extra credit just for showing up! For registration and details, click here.