Louis C.K.’s Former Manager Speaks out Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Disgraced comedian Louis C.K.‘s longtime former manager, Dave Becky, has issued a lengthy apology for his involvement in the C.K. sexual misconduct scandal, Deadline reports.

In an exposé published by The New York Times last week, five women accused C.K. of masturbating in front of them. The story also alleged that Becky may have made threatening remarks toward two women speaking out about the incident, comedy duo Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov.

“What I did was wrong, and again, I am extremely sorry,” Becky wrote today, insisting that he had “misinterpreted” Goodman and Wolov’s accusations as “a matter of infidelity.”

“I now comprehend that my response was perceived as a threat to cover-up sexual misconduct. This is not an excuse. What I did was wrong, and again, I am extremely sorry,” he wrote.

He also claims that until last week, he had not been aware of any other allegations of sexual misconduct against his former client. On Friday, Becky claimed that he severed ties with C.K. in the wake of the scandal.

“I have come to realize my status wielded an atmosphere where such news did not reach me, or worse yet, that it seemed such news did not matter to me. It does. It matters tremendously,” he continued.

Becky’s apology letter comes three days after his employer, 3 Arts Entertainment, dropped C.K. as a client, along with APA and the comedian’s longtime publicist. Becky’s impressive client list includes Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari and Amy Poehler. There is an online petition calling on his clients to leave him.

Here is Becky’s statement in full:

“I profoundly regret and am deeply sorry for not listening to and not understanding what happened to Dana and Julia. If I had, I would have taken this event as seriously as it deserved to be, and I would have confronted Louis, which would have been the right thing to do.

I am providing this context so that others do not make the same mistake I did. At that time, I heard the story third-hand, and I interpreted the conversation as two women telling a story about a sexual encounter with a then-married Louis. Albeit enormously embarrassing, in no way did I interpret the interaction as threatening or non-consensual. I misperceived the casual way the story was portrayed to me – instead I should have recognized that it must have been a mask for their unease and discomfort in the face of his detestable behavior. My intent was to seek discretion to protect what I thought was a matter of infidelity. I now comprehend that my response was perceived as a threat to cover-up sexual misconduct. This is not an excuse. What I did was wrong, and again, I am extremely sorry.

In hindsight, I was operating blindly from a one-sided place of privilege. Until last week, I knew only of this one isolated incident. Although this may sound naïve, it is true. Never once, in all of these years, did anyone mention any of the other incidents that were reported recently — I am appalled to learn of these. I have come to realize my status wielded an atmosphere where such news did not reach me, or worse yet, that it seemed such news did not matter to me. It does. It matters tremendously.

I am going to take time to reflect on this, to educate myself daily, and to strive towards a more enlightened path. I want to ensure that all voices around me are heard, and that everyone is treated respectfully and empathetically. More than anything, I want to create an environment that is a better, safer and fairer place.

Sincerely,

Dave Becky.”

Becky’s apology comes after outlets like FX, Netflix and HBO cut ties with C.K., dropping all of his projects.

C.K. apologized for his actions last week, saying “these stories are true.” He went on to release a lengthy statement in which he confessed to using his influence over the victims “irresponsibly.” Read C.K.’s statement in full here.