Participating in a University of Chicago live taping of David Axelrod’s podcast The Axe Files, former Daily Show host Jon Stewart got a bit rankled when an audience member asked about frequent Daily Show guest Louis C.K. and what thought goes into booking someone with an alleged history of sexual harassment.
As a reminder, rumors that Louis C.K. has a rude habit of surprising young female comedians by having them walk in on him masturbating have circulated within the comedy community for some time. Most recently, these rumors were revived after Jen Kirkman told a story about a “known perv” comedian on her podcast last year. Though it was widely speculated that she was talking about Louis C.K., Kirkman never confirmed it.
So back to the University of Chicago, Jon Stewart, and The Axe Files.
Jamie Peck of Death & Taxes writes:
A student asked Stewart if the rumors about the one we call Louis J.O. — the last person he interviewed on The Daily Show— were “on his radar.” Before he was even done asking the question, Stewart came out with a “Whoa! What?!” and interrupted him several more times throughout. When the kid finally finished the question, Stewart claimed to have no knowledge of the rumors and was generally dismissive.
“So the internet said Louis harassed women? You know who you’re talking to, right? I didn’t see the tweets. [laughter] I honestly, I’m not that connected to that world, so I do apologize, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but…I can’t really, I don’t know what to say.”
Said the close, personal friend of C.K. who has often covered similar stories and spoken about the power of social media.
Cool. Cool cool cool.
Moving onto Woody Allen (WHY?), the director—famed for writing movies featuring old men being romanced by much younger women—says he’d have a very hard time flipping the script to feature an older female protagonist being pursued by a younger man.
“I just don’t have any material,” he told The New York Times. “I don’t have anything really to draw on. But I wouldn’t hesitate if I had a good story.”
He also recognizes that it’s a “perfectly valid comic idea.” Generous. [People]
Meanwhile, he was also heckled with rape jokes (weirdly about Roman Polanski and NOT about Woody Allen) at Cannes.
What is it, CREEP DAY?
Anyway, all the best to Nev’s wife and baby.
- By the way, Shaun White is being sued for sexual harassment and acting like a doink. [TMZ]
- Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian made their first public appearance since news broke of their pregnancy to celebrate Chyna’s birthday. [POPSUGAR]
- Here are Kendall Jenner’s new Calvin Klein ads. [E! News]
- Let Justin Bieber feed his squirrels in peace. [TMZ]
Image via Getty.