This piece was written for my Arts Journalism class. The assignment was to analyze Louis C.K.’s controversial return to comedy in less than 500 words. I submitted the story on Sept. 5, 2018 and received a grade of 100 percent.

“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.”

That is how Louis C.K. ended a statement released last November, after he confirmed reports that he had masturbated in front of at least five women in the comedy community. While (as many critics pointed out) he never included the words, “I’m sorry,” the tone was vaguely apologetic.

Less than a year later, he is back onstage. He did a 15-minute set– unannounced– at the Comedy Cellar in New York on Aug. 26. He chose not to comment on recent events, instead focusing his act on “racism, waitresses’ tips, (and) parades,” according to the club owner.

This begs the question: how long is “a long time”? The #MeToo movement is so recent that there’s no standard for how much time perpetrators should take before stepping back into the public eye.

Sure, we could choose an arbitrary length of time. Six months, a year, five years, never…. But every #MeToo situation is different, and there’s no “one size fits all” answer.

Instead, we need to look at the perpetrator’s actions during that time. Have they actually demonstrated repentance and learned why and how their past actions were wrong? Have they used their power in the industry to support the people they have hurt? What steps are they taking to put an end to these misogynistic practices?