Bill Cosby is determined to honor his work commitments despite the serious allegation of sexual misconduct that have been levied on him from numerous women who claim that the comedian drugged and raped him.
The 77-year-old, who was once regarded as America’s most beloved TV dad, has chosen to remain silent except for a few quips about how the “black media” should handle his case, which wasn’t well-received.
Neither was his comedy show in Hamilton, Ontario last Friday, which according to The Hollywood Reporter turned out to be a verbal massacre thanks to the crowds of protesters stationed outside and inside the venue.
Cosby reportedly began his routine by jokingly praising the demonstrators outside the Hamilton Place Theater for having the fortitude to withstand the cold temps in order to “say what they believed in”
As soon the embattled comedian proceeded to his first set, he was abruptly halted when 30 women proceeded to rise from their seats and remove their coats to reveal white T-shirts that had the words ‘We Believe The Women” encrusted on the fronts and backs.
It was a chaotic scene as audience members were treated to whistle blowers while some of the women carried out a steady chant of “we believe the women”. Security promptly made their way through the crowd to end the impromptu orchestration.
Meanwhile Cosby approached the hecklers with consideration of an older statesman as he loudly commanded security to “Stop, stop, let them, let them, stop…let them have their say”.
Things continued to get hectic as some of the women were seen documenting the unfolding dramatics. As the currents got choppier, Cosby attempted to assuage the protesters as he assumed the stance of an overwhelmed referee. Some of his fans began yelling “We believe the men” and “We love you Bill” to counteract the women but this only compelled Cosby to plead for an end to the mayhem, “stop, it will calm”.
But the worst was yet to come when jut as things were stabilizing, a man who was clearly keen on having the last say, spewed out the damning words, “You’re a piece of shit. You rapist”.
With a wearied smile plastered on his face, Cosby begged for the end to his public humiliation, “stop, no, no, don’t do this” as security finally restored law and order.
Minutes later Cosby was back in his seat, determined to put the climatic circumstances behind him, “now…we’re going to continue with our show”.
Cosby had made it a point to give the audience a heads up as soon as he arrived on stage, ‘Whatever happens here tonight, if there’s some sort of outburst, we just need to keep calm and it doesn’t have to last that long”.
Ontario was the last leg of his Canadian tour that included two other cities – Kitchener and London, but Friday’s show was the grand finale in more ways than one.
He managed to end on a solid note as he asked the audience “to take what has been a wonderful time and let us hold no enemies anywhere”.
Cosby may have survived his public flogging, but he will be returning home to a roster of new allegations and the realization that award season will be another opportunity for assigned hosts like Tina Fey who confirmed that the Golden Globes will be “A Cosby Fest” to take advantage of his current plight.
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