Louis C.K. dropped from 'Secret Life of Pets 2' by Universal, Illumination

By Dave McNary

Universal Pictures and Illumination have terminated their relationship with disgraced comedian Louis C.K. for the sequel The Secret Life of Pets 2.

He voiced the lead character Max, a Jack Russell terrrier, in last year’s animated comedy. The sequel is schedule to open on June 7, 2019.

Universal and Illumination made a short one-sentence announcement on Friday afternoon and did not elaborate. The move came a day after the New York Times published a story alleging that C.K. had repeatedly asked women he encountered in work-related environments to watch him masturbate.

He confirmed the stories on Friday morning.

“These stories are true,” C.K. said in his statement. “At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my d–ck without asking first, which is also true. But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your dick isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.”