Louis CK has responded to a report published by The New York Times referring to allegations of sexual misconduct against him, saying that "these stories are true" while also admitting to masturbating in front of five women.

In a statement released by his representative, the American comedian and film star expressed his remorse to the women – Abby Schachner, Rebecca Corry, Dana Min Goodman, Julia Wolov and another who chose to remain anonymous – saying that there was "nothing about this that I forgive myself for".

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The 50-year-old actor admitted to abusing his power on women who "admired him". He said he never showed off his "d**k" to women without asking but later on in life he said he realised that it was not okay to do that to women who "you have power over".

"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," he said.

"There is nothing about this that I forgive myself for. And I have to reconcile 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," he added.

He continued, "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."

Louis C.K.
Louis CK at an event - File photo Getty