Louis CK on sexual misconduct allegations: 'These stories are true'

— -- Louis C.K. has responded to the sexual misconduct allegations by five women published in a New York Times report on Thursday.

The comedian, whose given name is Louis Szekely, is alleged to have masturbated in front of several female associates, according to the report.

In the long statement, Louis C.K. said "these stories are true" and wrote that he'd brought "pain to my family, my friends, my children and their mother."

Below is Louis C.K.'s statement in full:

I want to address the stories told to the New York Times by five women named Abby, Rebecca, Dana, Julia who felt able to name themselves and one who did not.

These stories are true. At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my d--- 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 d--- 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.

The hardest regret to live with is what you've done to hurt someone else. And I can hardly wrap my head around the scope of hurt I brought on them. I’d be remiss to exclude the hurt that I’ve brought on people who I work with and have worked with who’s professional and personal lives have been impacted by all of this, including projects currently in production: the cast and crew of "Better Things," "Baskets," "The Cops," "One Mississippi," and "I Love You Daddy." I deeply regret that this has brought negative attention to my manager Dave Becky who only tried to mediate a situation that I caused. I’ve brought anguish and hardship to the people at FX who have given me so much The Orchard who took a chance on my movie. and every other entity that has bet on me through the years.

I’ve brought pain to my family, my friends, my children and their mother.

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.

Louis C.K.'s statement comes after five women spoke to the Times, alleging the misconduct. Comedy duo Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov told the paper that the comedian invited them to his hotel room for a nightcap after their late-night show in 2002. He asked them if he could expose himself and they laughed, they said. He then proceeded to "take all of his clothes off, and get completely naked, and started masturbating," Goodman said.

Another comedian, Rebecca Corry, told the Times that in 2005 the comedian "asked if we could go to my dressing room so he could masturbate in front of me." She said she declined.

After the story, the New York premiere of Louis C.K.'s film "I Love You Daddy" was canceled, and some of his co-stars spoke out against his alleged behavior.

Charlie Day released a statement to The Los Angeles Times that he "was as appalled as everyone to read the allegations" and would "not be promoting the movie further." Chloë Grace Moretz, who plays Louis C.K.'s teenage daughter in the film, already pulled out of the film's promotion two weeks ago, she told the paper.

Today, the distribution company for the film also announced that it would "not be moving forward with the release" of the film.

In addition to this new film, Netflix announced it would cancel Louis C.K.'s second stand-up special, and the network FX said it is also investigating the situation, since it is the home to his Emmy-Award winning show "Louie."