Five women have detailed sexual misconduct allegations against Emmy-winning comedian Louis CK in a New York Times report, including three who say he masturbated in front of them.

In the New York Times article on Thursday, CK’s publicist Lewis Kay said the comedian “is not going to answer any questions” from the publication.

Kay said in an email to Reuters on Thursday that CK will issue a written statement “in the coming days”.

In the Times article, CK “dismissed stories of his alleged sexual misconduct as ‘rumours’,” when the Times had interviewed him about his latest film I Love You, Daddy at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

The New York premiere for I Love You, Daddy scheduled for Thursday was abruptly cancelled before the Times‘ story was published.

“In light of the allegations concerning Louis CK referenced in today’s New York Times, we are cancelling tonight’s premiere of I Love You, Daddy. There is never a place for the behaviour detailed in these allegations,” the film’s distributor, The Orchard, said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

The film company added that it is “giving careful consideration to the timing and release of the film and continuing to review the situation”.

The Times article said CK’s scheduled appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was also scrapped.

CK, 50, the creator and star of FX’s Louie and one of the most popular and praised stand-up comedians, has often joked about sexual topics and masturbation in his stand-up routines and show.

Twenty-First Century Fox Inc’s FX Networks said in a statement that it was “obviously very troubled by the allegations” published in the Times.

Time Warner Inc’s HBO said in a statement that CK’s past projects with the network, including 2006’s Lucky Louie series, would be removed from its on-demand services.

HBO said that CK will no longer participate in the November 18 televised Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs, hosted by Jon Stewart.

Two of the women in the New York Times article, comedians Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov, said CK had invited them to his hotel room after a comedy festival in Aspen, Colorado, in 2002 and then masturbated in front of them.

The newspaper also quoted three other women. One said CK masturbated in front of her, a second said he did so while on the phone with her and the third said she declined when he asked to masturbate in front of her.

– AAP