I am admittedly biased towards leniency on Louis since he's one of my favorite comics. In an effort to see the situation from outside by biased perspective, I have 3 (multi-part) questions:
1. Do you think that his letter of contrition and self imposed timeout is sufficient punishment? If not, what would be?
2. If revealed in another era (prior to #metoo) would this have been a potential career killer? Should it be?
3. Would you go to his standup act and/or watch his shows? (I.e. support him with your pocketbook). Assuming you're male, would you feel comfortable bringing your female significant other?
If they were heterosexual encounters back in the day that came to light, a big star would've probably been safe. Errol Flynn, Uncle Milty, Jerry Lewis, among many others, have all sorts of stories about them along these lines.
Sure, some things have changed, but it's mostly like it was back in the day. Heck, even in this atmosphere now, they still roll out Spartacus for public adulation and I think everyone in Hollywood over a certain age has heard all about him and that rumor that won't die about he and a very young Natalie Wood and that girlfriend of his a long time ago who turned up murdered with his name and number in her purse. The studios did and continue to cover up for these folks and they'll give most everyone second and third chances, unless, of course, you commit the one unpardonable sin of speaking the truth about this stuff.
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But I get what you're saying.
Can see where I might view a bit differently if that were the case beforehand.
His acts were in the work place, which is very bad. But, he did accept no for an answer, if I'm not mistaken.
Regardless, he should not accept a nomination to the Supreme Court from Trump. From Elizabeth Warren?...he'll be fine.
He had no direct power over the women he jerked of in front of. It was deeply perverse and weird, and of course he is a big star while they weren’t, but it is not Cosby-esque.
I certainly think he should be able to ease his way back. He is apologetic; he should be forgiven.
....
1. Do you think that his letter of contrition and self imposed timeout is sufficient punishment?
In his case, yes.
2. If revealed in another era (prior to #metoo) would this have been a potential career killer? Should it be?
Prior to Harvey Weinstein, it would not have been a story. Definitely not a career killer.
3. Would you go to his standup act and/or watch his shows? (I.e. support him with your pocketbook). Assuming you're male, would you feel comfortable bringing your female significant other?
Assuming I would have watched him perform before the story, I definitely would go see his act at this point. He has served his penance. He owned it. I would bring a female only if she was comfortable with seeing him.