Nine months ago, after five women and fellow comedians accused him of sexual misconduct, it was impossible to know how Louis C.K. might plot his re-emergence. FX Networks had canceled his production deal; a film he wrote, directed and starred in, in which his character engages in behavior similar to that which he admitted, had been quickly called off; and Louis C.K. himself had announced that he would “step back and take a long time to listen,” echoing similar comments made by other powerful men capsized in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

Now, with the news that he made a surprise appearance at the Comedy Cellar in New York on Sunday night, it appears that listening period is over. Comedy fans and other entertainment figures reacted to the unexpected turn of events on Monday and Tuesday morning with a range of emotions, from outrage that it had come too soon to forbearance for a long-revered performer who admitted to misconduct.

“I understand that some people will be upset with me,” said Noam Dworman, owner of the Comedy Cellar, who described Louis C.K.’s 15-minute standup set as “typical Louis C.K. stuff” including riffs on race and tipping at restaurants. But, he added, “there can’t be a permanent life sentence on someone who does something wrong.”

[Read more: Louis C.K. made a surprise appearance at a New York club Sunday night.]

‘Less than the minimum of decency’

The most commonly expressed sentiment online was that the consequences for Louis C.K.’s behavior — a nine-month absence and canceled TV and film deals after he admitted to masturbating in front of colleagues — haven’t yet matched up to the transgressions.