Rebecca Corry on Why the Louis C.K. Sexual Harassment Story is Now Becoming Part of Her Act
"This bullshit about the predators being the ones who get canceled is a cute idea, but not true," says comic Rebecca Corry, whose story has come back into focus in light of Louis C.K.'s shocking Grammy win. https://t.co/xeHguNlvUM
- Variety (@Variety) April 17, 2022
After Louis C.K. won a Grammy earlier this month despite being 'cancelled', comedian Rebecca Corry has been flooded with interview requests.
Corry was one of several women who spoke up about being sexually harassed by C.K. in a 2017 New York Times investigation piece. Besides that and writing a 2018 Vulture essay about the matter, Corry has kept relatively quiet and dismissed press inquires, not even mentioning it in her stand up.
However even before C.K.'s recent Grammy win, Corry had decided that it was perhaps time to address it in her comedy routine. She's been trying out material about it, in hopes that it could lead to a tour or a special. Corry isn't too optimistic about it though, as she sees herself as the "real recipient" of cancel culture.
"Why am I constantly being asked to speak on cancel culture, the joke that is the #metoo movement and C.K. every time he’s in the news cycle? I don’t care what that guy does, and of course cancel culture is real. I’m living proof. The moment I was sexually harassed at my job, I was canceled. That’s how it works, kids. And referring to me as a “victim,” “accuser,” “silence breaker” or “one of five women” has grown tiresome and is now intolerable."
Corry doesn't regret speaking out but says the damage done to her didn't start with the 2017 New York Times story, but in 2005 when she turned down C.K.'s request to masturbate in front of her on set of a Fox pilot. Corry was a co-writer, co-producer and co-star on the project and had significant agency, but was still objected to the harassment.
"This bullshit about the predators being the ones who get canceled is a cute idea but not true. They don’t get canceled, they just get an adult “time out.” Their behavior is interrupted momentarily, but fear not, they have hardcore fans, millions of dollars and will always hold the power. The people who get canceled are the ones whose lives and careers have been fucked with, and mine has.
I am an actress, writer and comedian and have been for 31 years. I have a career, credits and talent. I didn’t run away and hide for a decade when things got hard like (Dave) Chappelle did. I stayed and have never stopped doing stand-up comedy and creating and never will. I’ve done my time and paid my dues and then some."
Corry says even her dog charity - Stand Up for Pits - has been affected by the ordeal.
"One worth mentioning is a club owner who didn’t allow my charity events for dogs back at his clubs - which I sold out all of but one - because he said I 'threw my dirty tampons all over the green room.' He also said one of his club managers said I was 'difficult because I wanted everything to be perfect.'
I said, 'I’m sorry, what are you saying?' And he repeated it. I said, 'I’m not sure my brain can handle what you’re saying.' And he was like, 'Yeah. I mean, I don’t know if it’s true or not.' I was livid and later sent him an email that said, 'Please let whatever manager who said the tampon thing about me to stop. If I find out from anyone that kind of defamation is being said about me, it will be a problem.' To which he replied, 'You can count on my sealing this up, but I would expect the same in return.' … Think about that. This club owner actually told me that he expected the same (silence) in return, which is grotesque and mind-numbing, to say the least."
While Corry says she can't prove she's blacklisted, she claims to "feel and see it".
"Being on the 'one of five women' list absolutely affects potential opportunities and makes the Hollywood lemmings want to distance themselves from me. I’m currently pitching two shows, and while I know how hard it is to sell a show, being on the 'list' is not helping. Certain people won’t touch it because of their past or current affiliations. I also won’t work with assholes, so the playing field is narrow. But I’m lucky to have the best agent on the planet and we aren’t giving up."
And while Corry is now implementing her experience into her set, don't bank on it revolving around it entirely.
"My life and experiences are so much more than this gross debacle."
1
Much more at the source!