First Ontario Cosby Show Happens Without a Hitch

Bill Cosby took the stage last night in Kitchener, Ontario – on the same day that three more women stepped forward publicly with claims of sexual assaults, accompanied by lawyer Gloria Allred.

Allred held a press conference introducing the three women to the media,

Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

who read statements telling their accounts of being sexually assaulted by the embattled comedian and TV star.

Allred also addressed comments made the previous day by Cosby’s longtime co-star on The Cosby Show, Phylicia Rashad, who has now publicly supported Cosby and claims the allegations are merely a well coordinated attempt to extinguish the actors legacy.

Phylicia, I vow to you that I will not forget these women, because women matter. They deserve respect and dignity. Phylicia, you should be supporting these women rather than joining Cosby’s paid “attack dogs” who are trying to undermine them in any way they can. – Gloria Allred in response to Phylicia Rashad.

Cosby will likely face no legal repercussions in these recent cases, as the statue of limitations has passed in all three.

Meanwhile, Cosby took to the stage at the Centre in the Square theatre in Kitchener, Ontario for his first show of 2015 and the first of three comedy shows in the province. Many people who had purchased tickets decided not to attend, with searches of Kijiji showing three pages of posts seeking to sell their tickets – many at tremendous discounts. Attendees said that the theatre was somewhere between 50-75% full, and that the show proceeded with no interruptions or references to the recent controversy.

Despite concerns, voiced by Cosby himself, only a few peaceful protestors gathered outside, carrying signs reading things such as “He said: 1  She said: 26+” and “RAPE is no JOKE”.

The only real heckling the comedian faced was at the hands of Canada’s satire news show This Hour Has 22 Minutes which sent correspondent Abdul Butt to the show. As Cosby left the theatre through a back door and made his way to the waiting car, Butt congratulated him by saying, “Hey, Bill, congratulations on your first show in 2015!” The correspondent then followed up his comment by saying, “Way to start the year off with a bang! Hope it was consensual this time, though, Billy.” There was no reaction from Cosby or his handlers.

You can view the video of the confrontation on the CBC website.

Instead of attending the show, many people chose to gather at an event dubbed ‘Voices Carry’ which was organized as an alternative to Cosby’s act. More than 300 people attended the event, which attempted to raise money for victims of sexual assault through the Women’s Crisis Services and the Sexual Assault Centre of Waterloo Region. Anyone with tickets to the Cosby show was invited to use their ticket to gain free admission to the fundraiser. Event organizer Mike Farwell tweeted that by 10pm nearly $7,500 had been raised for the support centre.

Cosby is set to perform two more shows in Ontario, tonight (Thursday) in London and Friday night in Hamilton.

UPDATE

Cosby’s two remaining shows weren’t as uneventful. Read about the other two Ontario performances here.