Disgraced comedian Louis C.K. has quietly stepped back into the comedy ring. The “Louis” star was spotted at New York’s Comedy Cellar on Sunday night performing a set.

Louis C.K. made an unannounced appearance at a New York City comedy club, performing there for the first time since he admitted to sexual misconduct https://t.co/OFeG3NwUmc

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 28, 2018

Just to recap – last year Louis C.K.’s perversities became public knowledge last year after he was caught up in the Harvey Weinstein whirlwind. Several female comedians had come forward to say C.K. masturbated in front of them during meetings and in his hotel room after he invited them up. Co-workers stepped forward to reveal that C.K. regularly masturbated openly during private meetings and that it was an “open secret” among those closest to him.

It’s hard to imagine any other workplace besides “Hollywood” that would condone or even entertain this type of behavior, but C.K. had become a huge star and cash cow in recent years. In Tinsel Town, money talks and everything else walks.

C.K. issued a bizarre, narcissistic apology and disappeared.

These stories are true. At the time, I said to myself that what I did was O.K. because I never showed a woman my dick without asking first, which is also true. But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your dick isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly. I have been remorseful of my actions. And I’ve tried to learn from them. And run from them. Now I’m aware of the extent of the impact of my actions. I learned yesterday the extent to which I left these women who admired me feeling badly about themselves and cautious around other men who would never have put them in that position. I also took advantage of the fact that I was widely admired in my and their community, which disabled them from sharing their story and brought hardship to them when they tried because people who look up to me didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t think that I was doing any of that because my position allowed me not to think about it. There is nothing about this that I forgive myself for. And I have to reconcile it with who I am. Which is nothing compared to the task I left them with. I wish I had reacted to their admiration of me by being a good example to them as a man and given them some guidance as a comedian, including because I admired their work.

He went on to say he was ready to take a “long time” out of the spotlight.

I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen. Thank you for reading.

That “long time” was less than a year.

Understandably many people were not at all happy with his return.

https://twitter.com/Shakestweetz/status/1034413860718043137

"audiences should have the leeway to decide what to watch themselves." — opinion from the comedy club owner that booked Louis CK but didn't tell anyone, thereby removing their ability to decide for themselves

— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) August 28, 2018

I know two of the women Louis CK harassed and they scrubbed their entire social history because of threats. So, you see how this works out.

— Wʏɴᴛᴇʀ Mɪᴛᴄʜᴇʟʟ (Rᴏʜʀʙᴀᴜɢʜ) (@wyntermitchell) August 28, 2018

If Louis CK had stolen jokes, he’d be a fucking pariah. But instead he stole careers and passion and trust from possibly brilliant comedians – women that we’ll never get to hear from – and that is worse. Or it should be.

— Jason Filiatrault (@jfiliatrault) August 28, 2018

I’m still on the same shampoo bottle as when louis ck’s time out started

— Sarah Lazarus (@sarahclazarus) August 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/jenniferweiner/status/1034426635855048704

Not a long enough time out for Louis CK. Don’t fall for the white redemption fairytale. He’s a first class piece of shit.

— Niesha Trout (@nieshatrout) August 28, 2018

Counteropinion: Louis CK, once one of my favorite comedians, joked about his privilege and white dudeness on stage while, behind the curtain, using that privilege and white dudeness to sexually harass and harm women and their own careers in comedy. So he can stay in the shed.

— Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) August 28, 2018

I would have paid money if some guy in the audience climbed up on stage and started jerking off in front of Louis CK during his act. https://t.co/lmm3KI9yI7

— Ashley Lynch says BLM (@ashleylynch) August 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/dansolomon/status/1034299273062436864

https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1034464980844740608

What do you think? Should Louis C.K. get another chance in the spotlight?