Amid ongoing sexual assault allegations, Bill Cosby is in Canada performing the first of three scheduled Ontario shows tonight in Kitchener.
Tomorrow night the embattled comedian will head to London, where organized protesters will picket outside the venue, Budweiser Gardens.
Leading the effort is Megan Walker, executive director of the London Abused Women’s Centre, who has been advised that some audience members plan to interrupt his performance.
“There are individuals that purchased tickets prior to these allegations coming out. They no longer want to support Mr. Cosby and they want to support us,”; Walker told ET Canada.
“Some have advised us that they’ll be standing up, turning their backs on Mr. Cosby and walk out. Others have advised that they intend to heckle Mr. Cosby while in the show. That’s a separate action that’s being taken, and of course we’re not going to be critical of any action,”; she said.
The comedian is aware of the protest, issuing a statement yesterday via Purpose PR Firm, which reads: “Dear Patrons: We have been advised that there may be attempts to disrupt tonight’s performance. If a disruption occurs, please remain calm until the matter is resolved and do not confront the person making the disruption.”;
“I’m going to give my fans the show of their life,”; Cosby adds to the statement.
Cosby’s final Canadian date is in Hamilton on Friday.
Amid the firestorm of controversy, Phylicia Rashad, who played the comedian’s wife Claire Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”; finally broke her silence.
In an interview published Tuesday night by Showbiz 411, the actress says she believes that the allegations against Cosby are part of a conspiracy to bring him down, saying, “Forget these women. What you’re seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it’s orchestrated. I don’t know why or who’s doing it, but it’s the legacy. And it’s a legacy that is so important to the culture.”;
Rashad also dismissed the accusations brought against Cosby by supermodels Janice Dickinson and Beverly Johnson, simply saying, “Oh, please,”; when their names were mentioned.
And she defended Cosby’s wife, telling the publication there’s no way that Camille Cosby was complicit in — or had ignored — any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, allegations against the comedian continue to be made. In a press conference held by Gloria Allred on Wednesday, three more women came forward for the first time with allegations against Cosby.
Linda Kirkpatrick, Lynn Neal, and Kacey each spoke of meeting Cosby when they were in their 20s and being drugged and sexually assaulted by the comedian.
