Sarah Silverman says she allowed Louis C.K. to masturbate in front of her

Jewish comedian later apologizes for noting that fellow comic was not in a position of power at the time and they were ‘just friends’

Sarah Silverman issued an apology on Monday after receiving criticism for admitting she allowed fellow comedian Louis C.K. to masturbate in front of her.

C.K. last year admitted to masturbating in front of colleagues after facing accusations from five women of sexual misconduct. He apologized for his actions at the time and said he had abused his position.

“I don’t know if I’m going to regret saying this. I’ve known Louis forever, I’m not making excuses for him, so please don’t take this that way. We are peers. We are equals. When we were kids, and he asked if he could masturbate in front of me, sometimes I’d go, ‘Fuck yeah I want to see that,’” Silverman, who is Jewish, said on Howard Stern’s radio show.

She said C.K.’s behavior with her differed from that with other women as he was not yet an influential figure in the comedy world.

“It’s not analogous to the other women that are talking about what he did to them. He could offer me nothing. We were only just friends. So sometimes, yeah, I wanted to see it, it was amazing. Sometimes I would say, ‘Fucking no, gross,’ and we got pizza,” Silverman said.

“I believe he has remorse, I believe he can come back, I just want him to talk about it on stage,” she added. “Comics don’t like to be told what to do so he’s just going to have to find his way or not find his way and people are going to watch him or not watch him.”

Rebecca I’m sorry. Ugh this is why I don’t like weighing in. I can’t seem to do press 4 my show w/out being asked about it. But you’re right- you were equals and he fucked with you and it’s not ok. I’m sorry, friend. You are so talented and so kind.

— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) October 22, 2018

Rebecca Corry, a comedian and one of C.K.’s accusers, later took aim at Silverman’s remark that “he could offer me nothing.”

“To be real clear, CK had ‘nothing to offer me’ as I too was his equal on the set the day he decided to sexually harass me. He took away a day I worked years for and still has no remorse. He’s a predator who victimized women for decades and lied about it,” Corry wrote on Twitter.

Silverman in turn apologized to Corry.

“You’re right- you were equals and he fucked with you and it’s not ok,” Silverman tweeted. “I’m sorry, friend. You are so talented and so kind.”

In August, C.K. performed at a comedy club in New York in what was apparently the first time after he admitted to engaging in sexual misconduct.

News of his appearance drew widespread criticism from women on social media, with many saying he had not yet paid for his actions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.