People ask you to be honest, but when you are honest those same people will be shocked or outraged by said honesty that they requested. So for most of us we tell subtle little lies to avoid confrontation. Not Louis C.K. The comedian keeps it 100 in his standup material, even when he knows that the crowd will be appalled. Louis C.K. has been successful enough in his career where he can take chances and push boundaries with his comedy. And he did just that when he hosted the finale of SNL‘s 40th season.
Adorned in his now iconic black t-shirt, Louis C.K. delivered one of the most memorable and controversial monologues in the show’s entire history. In 2015, not one person wants to be branded as a racist. However Louis C.K. admitted that because he was born in the 70’s that he has mild racism. “I’m not racist, however I do have mild racism. It’s the best I can do coming out of the 70’s because that was a very racist decade. People said racist things all the time and nobody got offended,” Louis said. “I do have “The 70’s was a very racist decade. The only time that someone got offended is if you said something racist in the 70’s was if someone said, ‘Hey, you interrupted me, I was saying something racist.'”
The comedian (Which is a VERY important detail to remember when listening to this monologue because his job is to find the funny in anything) then explored the conflicts in the Middle East. “Everything was different in the 70’s than it is now, except the Middle East. It’s exactly the same.” C.K. joked. “It’s the same fights and it’s boring now. After awhile when you fight for 1000 years people don’t care and they say, ‘Those guys are dicks, they just fight.'”
Louis tackled the grim topic of pediphilia. He told the story of how in the 70’s, there was a child molester with a French accent in his neighborhood who attempted to pick up teenage boys with the reward of taking them to McDonald’s. Everyone knew there was a disgusting child molester, but the only action that they took was to just to just stay away from that guy because he’s the town child molester. Louis was upset with the kid toucher because “He didn’t like me — I felt a little bad.”
And though it is comedy, he took a very psychological exploration of child molesters. He tried to delve into the psyche of a kid toucher and why they would commit such horrendous crimes. Almost suggesting that it is a psychological defect rather than just a horrible person who voluntarily wants to commit crimes. Louis has two young daughters, so logic would dictate that he shouldn’t be somewhat sympathetic to kid touchers, but Louis is very honest about the subject. “When you consider the risks in being a child molester, speaking not of even the damage you’re doing, but the risks, there’s no worse life available to a human than being a caught child molester. And yet they still do it! Which you could only really surmise, it must be really really good. From their point of view. It must be amazing for them to risk so much.” After getting disgusted groans from the crowd from that aspect, “How do you think I feel, this is my last show probably.”
And of course there was “outrage.”
Worst #SNL opening sketch ever? Most pointless & unfunny monologue about racism & molestation ever? Switching to an #amyschumer rerun.
— Ken Rudin (@kenrudin) May 17, 2015
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Those defending the #LouisCK monologue on @nbcsnl are either predators themselves, or victims of sexual abuse. My heart aches for humanity.
— pamela_jayne (@pamela_jayne) May 17, 2015
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. @nbcsnl I hope Louis CK is right about this being his last time hosting. The child molesting bit was disgusting. #SNL40Finale #SNL
— Josh Allen (@j_allen) May 17, 2015
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The opening monologue was disgusting and creepy – child molestation is never ever funny – you got it completely wrong @nbcsnl #SNL40
— Caragh Taylor (@CaraghTaylor) May 17, 2015
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Some did find the monologue to be extraordinary.
Louis CK is killing it on SNL. No need for the show. I'll take Louie for 90 mins
— Jared Max (@Jared_Max) May 17, 2015
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Louis CK 4 presidency of the United States of America. #SNL
— Steve Braband (@stevebraband) May 17, 2015
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God bless Louis CK. His SNL monologue was the ballsiest set in forever.
— William (@Wildomite) May 17, 2015
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In other news, Louis CK is on SNL doing what he does best; making you laugh & then immediately think "I am definitely going to hell now."
— Rob Sherrell (@RobJustJokin) May 17, 2015
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#Fakeoutrage meter at an all-time high this morning over Louis CK #SNL monologue.
— Andrew Hickey (@andrewmhickey) May 17, 2015
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