Louis C.K., the comedian, writer and director whose TV series, "Louie," helped usher in such creator-driven shows as "Atlanta" and "Master of None," is the latest entertainment figure to be accused of sexual misconduct.

In a New York Times story published on the Times website today, women accuse Louis C.K. of masturbating in front of them, or asking to do so. The women who are on the record describe experiences that happened about 10 years ago.

As Times reporters Melena Ryzik, Cara Buckley and Jodi Kantor write in their story, Louis C.K., via a spokesman, declined to comment on the allegations.

The Times story says that Louis C.K.'s publicist, Lewis Kay, wrote in a Tuesday email that "Louis is not going to answer any questions."

The report in the Times comes after rumors about Louis C.K. have long circulated in the comedy community. In Season 2 of the Amazon Prime series, "One Mississippi," for example, creator Tig Notaro includes a scene in which a female radio producer is stunned to witness her male boss masturbating during their meeting.

Louis C.K. is listed as an executive producer of "One Mississippi," but Notaro has gone out of her way to put distance between herself and Louis C.K., even though the comedian helped turn the spotlight on Notaro following her memorable stand-up set at a club in Los Angeles, where she spoke frankly about being diagnosed with cancer.

The Times story includes comments Notaro emailed to the reporters, in which she says she had heard rumors but wasn't sure what to believe:

"'Sadly, I've come to learn that Louis C.K.'s victims are not only real,' she said by email, 'but many are actual friends of mine within the comedy community.'"

The women who are quoted on the record in the Times story are comedians Dana Min Goodman, Julia Wolov, Abby Schachner, Rebecca Corry and a fifth woman who spoke on condition of anonymity, but described an experience similar to what the others recount, in which Louis C.K. asked her to watch him masturbate.

The Hollywood Reporter says the imminent publication of the Times story was behind the abrupt cancellation of a planned Thursday night New York premiere for Louis C.K.'s movie, "I Love You, Daddy." Louis C.K.'s planned appearance on the Friday night episode of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" was also canceled.

Last Friday, a planned appearance on Colbert's show by Jeremy Piven, star of CBS' "Wisdom of the Crowd," was also abruptly canceled in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Piven. Piven has denied the accusations.

The story about Louis C.K. has been generating intense online discussion. Many say it at last highlights long-rumored stories about Louis C.K. It's also striking in that Louis C.K. has been seen as a supporter of women in comedy, most recently through his association with Pamela Adlon and her FX series "Better Things," about a single mother dealing with work and parenthood. Louis C.K. is an executive producer of the series, and has written or co-written several episodes.

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com

503-221-8227

@Kristiturnquist