Louis C.K says the allegations of sexual harassment made against him by several women in a New York Times article are true.

The stand-up comedian, actor and director, best known for his semi-autobiographical dark comedy series Louie, confirmed the accounts of five female comics published on Friday via a statement released by his publicist.

“I want to address the stories told to the New York Times by five women named Abby, Rebecca, Dana, Julia who felt able to name themselves and one who did not,” C.K. said. “These stories are true.”

The women, who all knew Louis through the entertainment industry., accused him inappropriate behaviour involving masturbation.

“At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my dick without asking first, which is also true,” he continued.

“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.”

The 50-year-old said he has “been remorseful” of his behaviour.

“Now I’m aware of the extent of the impact of my actions. I learned yesterday the extent to which I left these women who admired me feeling badly about themselves and cautious around other men who would never have put them in that position.

“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.

“There is nothing about this that I forgive myself for.  And I have to reconcile it with who I am.  Which is nothing compared to the task I left them with.”

The star made a long list of apologies, including to the cast and crew of his movie I Love You, Daddy, which was due to premiere this week but has now been scrapped.

He also apologised to his two daughters, who are aged in their early teens.

“I’ve brought pain to my family, my friends, my children and their mother,” he said.

“I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want.  I will now step back and take a long time to listen.”

Meanwhile, Netflix has announced it will not produce a second stand-up comedy special with Louie that had been in the works.