For a sketch about clowns, this isn’t very funny.
One of Louis C.K.’s strongest sketches from his recent “SNL” appearance, “Birthday Clown,” has been criticized for possibly ripping off Tig Notaro’s short film “Clown Service.” And the backlash has become so loud that Notaro is sharing her thoughts on the matter.
“It has been impossible for me to ignore the cacophony of voices reaching out personally and publicly about the potential plagiarizing of my film ‘Clown Service,’” says the comedian in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
From watching both videos, you can see distinct similarities, including the entire premise of a single lonely person booking a clown performance.
Notaro says, “While I don’t know how all this actually happened, I did find it extremely disappointing.”
She says a “writer/director” who was aware of “Clown Service” worked on Louis C.K.’s “Birthday Clown.” Notaro hasn’t talked to Louis C.K. in around a year and a half, and never gave anyone any permission to use her material.
She concludes the statement, saying, “I hesitated to even address any of this, but I think it is only right to defend my work and ideas and moving forward, I plan to continue screening ‘Clown Service’ with the joy and pride I always have.”
The Huffington Post has reached out to Louis C.K.’s management for comment. You can read Notaro’s full statement below:
It has been impossible for me to ignore the cacophony of voices reaching out personally and publicly about the potential plagiarizing of my film Clown Service (a film that I screened at Largo in Los Angeles for over a year and it premiered at Vulture’s Comedy Festival in NYC as well as numerous film festivals around the country and I am currently screening on my national tour).
While I don’t know how all this actually happened, I did find it extremely disappointing.
Here is what I can tell you:
First off, I have recently learned that a writer/director who was fully aware of Clown Service when I was making it, actually worked on Louis C.K.’s clown sketch that is in question.
Secondly, Louis C.K. and I have not communicated in any way for nearly a year and a half.
And finally, I never gave anyone permission to use anything from my film.
I hesitated to even address any of this, but I think it is only right to defend my work and ideas and moving forward, I plan to continue screening Clown Service with the joy and pride I always have.
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