Am I even allowed to watch it?

Well, obviously that's up to you. But it took me a number of weeks to decide that I was going to see what I think of Louis CK's current output. This special was released on 30th June.

Louis CK, like many of the individuals who have been caught in the 'me too' movement is a divisive figure.

What he did (and has admitted to having done) to a number of women when in his company is very public and doesn't need to be repeated here. However, the fact that Louis CK has a Netflix special 9 years after he was dropped by Netflix raises significant questions...

How long should a person remain 'cancelled'?

Is it the passage of time, or changes to society which has led CK back on to our screens?

Does it matter that he was never criminally charged? Equally, is it important that he admitted what he did, how does that compare to an individual who holds themselves out as innocent?

And the question which is asked again and again - is it possible to separate the art from the artist?

The Artist

Before his behaviour was made public, I was a huge Louis CK fan. I liked his comedy, and sometimes I found it relatable. He once joked that divorce isn't such a bad thing as it never happens to couples who are happy. As someone who has been divorced myself, that kind of thing is not only funny, it was reassuring.

However. I find his behaviour abhorrent. No - he hasn't been accused of violent crimes, but he has crossed a line with a number of people. When the news of his behaviour came out, my interest in him and his comedy evaporated. His disappearance from the public eye obviously helped with this, although I understand that he continued to work, albeit on a much reduced scale.

When you look back at his work, CK has tended to hide in plain sight - a common trick. He has never been shy to talk about his genitalia, sexual preferences or other 'edgy' subject like drug taking. He has also been candid about subject like his own divorce. Like all comedians, he is able to achieve this by living in that grey area where it's never entirely clear whether he is being honest, or embellishing for comedic effect.

Despite 9 years having passed, I was surprised to see a new comedy special appear on Netflix and I was immediately uncomfortable. Once upon a time, I would have greedily gobbled this up as soon as I knew it was available, but today, I am far from convinced that the time is right for CK's public rehabilitation.

The Art

Louis CK is a seasoned comedian. He is confident on stage and has developed his act over decades. There's something about a seasoned comedian on stage. This isn't just a comedy special, it's a tour, it should be well developed and tested at smaller venues.

Sadly, Ridiculous doesn't highlight a great talent or finely honed comedic chops. What we get from Louis CK here just so obviously shows a man out of time. Vagina jokes can still be funny in 2026, but to lack the self awareness to realise a man in his 60s who is trying to rehabilitate an image as a sex pest probably shouldn't spend ages taking about vaginas reflects where Louis CK is. It's not that he's wheeling out the old jokes, it's that he's still taking about things he was taking about 20 years ago, but the subject matter is not quite so funny anymore and CK has certainly not found a new angle.

Louis CK has always laced his material with self depreciation. The idea has always been about giving an insight into an imperfect mind, a look behind the celebrity curtain to see the flawed human. But when you've already seen the grizzly truth of a man at his worst, these jokes simply don't deliver a they once might.

The truth is, this at doesn't have the quality of the skill that one would hope for from a man who needs to hit a higher bar than ever to justify his pace on our screens. You can see why Netflix have in to the temptation; i have no doubt this special will get plenty of views. But for me, not only did I find it too hard to separate the artist from his art, the art wasn't even good enough to justify trying.

You might not regret watching this comedy special, but that's probably because you'll have forgotten watching it soon after it's finished.