Guy Williams has hit out at controversial US comedian Louis CK's recently announced tour of Aotearoa, which is scheduled for November.
Speaking on AM on Wednesday, the New Zealand comedian said it "is kind of grim" Louis CK has "brushed away" the sexual misconduct allegations levelled against him in 2017, and it would be unethical to buy tickets to his shows.
In a New York Times article the Louie star was accused by five different women of various lewd acts. He was said to have exposed himself in front of two female comedians in 2002, masturbated while speaking to a female comedian over the phone in 2003, and asked to masturbate in front of another comedian - who declined - in 2005.
Louis CK has not denied the allegations, releasing a statement shortly after they were published saying "these stories are true" and "there is nothing about this that I forgive myself for".
Williams said to AM host Melissa Chan-Green: "It is kind of grim because Louis CK is probably the best comedian in the world and he's kind of brushed away these very serious allegations against him."
"For me it's kind of depressing because the question has always been 'why aren't there more women in comedy?'. I think the honest answer is because of sexual assaults and predators like Louis CK and so it's a really tough one," said Williams.
"People go 'I find him funny and I'm going to watch the show', but I think anyone trying to buy tickets, you have to think this guy is an abuser. He doesn't really repent for what he's done and tried to suppress the allegations against him for so many years.
"I don't think it's very ethical to go and support a comedian like him... he can just continue to tour whenever he wants.
"He won the Grammy last year so the Grammys are kind of endorsing him but I think he doesn't realise the magnitude of what he's done, as so many men don't realise the seriousness of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
"So in my mind, he's not someone who's worth bringing back."
Louis CK will perform at Auckland's Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre on Saturday, November 19, Christchurch's Town Hall on Sunday, November 20 and Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre on Tuesday, November 22.
