Louis C.K. Sells Out New York's Most Famous Arena Despite One of The Biggest Cancellations in Recent History

On January 27th, 2023, Louis C.K. performed a for a sold-out crowd at the iconic Madison Square Garden.

Louis C.K. performing on stage.Photo byKevin Mazur/HBO

Although this is impressive in its own right, solidifying Louis as one of the greatest and most popular comedians of our generation, it speaks volumes about the current state of cancel culture as well.

Since his cancellation for accusations of lude sexual misconduct in 2017, Louis has remained all but absent from the public eye. But, in late 2022, he appeared on a string of podcasts to promote his live-streamed standup show at New York's most famous arena.

As it turns out, Louis hasn't been sitting in a dark room licking his wounds. After a period of reflection and reparations, he's been quietly re-building his brand -- this time, without the backing or support of large television networks or streaming platforms.

On an episode of the YMH podcast, Louis opens up about how he's been navigating this new world, as a solo entrepreneur. Starting with buying back the rights to his hit FX television show, "Louie":

"It wasn't streaming anywhere and it also wasn't being amplified... so I went to FX and said, like, 'You know, let me have it'... it took a few years... and they let me rent it. I license it, [but] you can only stream it."

Louis' show was what first catapulted him into mainstream fame. And, when he was cancelled, it was one of the first things to go. So, although Louis wasn't able to buy back full rights, he graciously accepted a 2-year licensing deal, which can now be streamed on his website, for a fee.

From there, Louis began building his website and email list into his own network, showcasing his work -- comedy specials, feature films, and most recently, a live-streamed performance at Madison Square Garden.

Through necessity comes ingenuity, and Louis' resurgence shows that public perception, although damning, is not the end all be all. And, the internet continues to provide windows when conventional doors close.

You can find all of Louis's tour dates, upcoming shows, and current projects on louisck.com.

Hey, I'm Hudson! I write about social media, marketing, and modern entrepreneurship. Hit follow for more stories like this one.