Comedian Louis CK slammed for 'bad taste' child molester joke

Louis CK on the set of Saturday Night Live, before his bad taste joke went to air. Photo/Getty

Controversial comedian Louis CK left Saturday Night Live viewers confused and uncomfortable after a lengthy joke about child molestation.

Opening the last episode of the 40th season, he mused that the life of a child sex offender is so horrific that abusing young boys "must be really good".

He compared the "addiction" to his love of Mounds chocolate bars, saying he would reluctantly give them up if he knew they could land him in jail for life - "but they obviously don't taste as good as little boys".

The audience went quiet, the band behind him shook their heads, and it divided opinion on Twitter.

Laughing at the tense reaction, he then joked: "That'll probably be the last joke I tell on this show."

It came after a joke about "mild racism" and another about the Middle East, in which he called Israel and Palestine "selfish little bitches".

Twitter reaction was swift, with one writing: "Whole new level of bad taste."

Another said: "Hoping victims of Child Molestation managed to miss the disgusting SNL monologue of #LouieCK #sodonewithim @nbcsnl #sexabusenotfunny."

@mashable @nbcsnl No, he was crude, inappropriate and condescending. Grasping for taboos to break into at the expense of victims

— rhonda (@rjn050) May 17, 2015

And another sent a tweet direct to NBC demanding an explanation.

@nbc Molestation/racism....REALLY....who on the staff gave the go ahead for THAT SNL monologue? Funny it was NOT! Offensive to many...yes!!!

— Shelia Robertson (@Sheliaboo1971) May 17, 2015

Author, professor and critic Dr Anthony Bradley, of New York's Kings College, took to Twitter as well.

Sorry. Joking about child molestation is bad form. Very low moment for #LouisCK. 100% not funny in any form. 1 in 3 girls, 1 in 6 boys.

— Anthony B. Bradley (@drantbradley) May 17, 2015

.@nbcsnl child molestation themed comedy with #LouisCK is a disappointing low. Would it be ok to joke about women being raped? Why kids?

— Anthony B. Bradley (@drantbradley) May 17, 2015

However, others applauded the joke, which is typical of Louis CK's controversial comedy.

Louis CK should do every #SNL monologue from here on out. Whether he's hosting or not. That is if they let him do it again after tonight.

— David Fabelo (@David_Fabelo) May 17, 2015

If you thought that monologue was "over the line" I feel sorry for you ----get out more #SNL

— bluejoni (@bluejoni) May 17, 2015

Louis CK has hosted SNL three times since 2012, and has been widely well-received.

Among the comedian's high profile sketches is one that confronts the taboo of "The N Word" - in which he says "n*****" and "c***".

True to form, his turn hosting Saturday Night Live was saturated with jokes about race and politics.

Closing the show, which featured Rihanna as guests performer, he also paid tribute to David Letterman, the legendary Late Show host who is retiring next week.

- Daily Mail