Bill Cosby jokes about sexual assault allegations facing him at second Canadian tour stop
Following what he called a ‘wonderful time’ in his return to the stage in Kitchener, Ontario on Wednesday, embattled comedian Bill Cosby has already begun joking about the sexual assault allegations facing him. And, what’s more, it appears that audiences love it.
Following what he called a "wonderful time" in his return to the stage in Kitchener, Ontario, on Wednesday, embattled comedian Bill Cosby has already begun joking about the sexual assault allegations he faces. And, what's more, it appears that audiences love it—or, at least, Thursday night's crowd in Ontario did.
National Post reporter Richard Warnica detailed an encounter between Cosby and a female audience member who heckled Cosby with an offer to buy him a drink. Cosby, who only recently broke a two-month stint of canceled tour dates, replied, "You have to be careful about drinking around me," which caused the heckler to walk out of the show.
Via Warnica:
Blackburn News reporter Ashton Patis, meanwhile, corroborates Warnica's version of events:
The joke, of course, is that Cosby is, in a sense, acknowledging the sexual assault allegations against him by playing off the now familiar theme of his alleged victims being drugged prior to the assaults in question via drinks he had offered them. As a punchline, this has a twofold effect: Cosby is both going against his stock response to the allegations that has developed in recent months, and publically shrugging off the grave seriousness of the situation—just as that orignal stock response did in the first place.
Warnica later filled out the series of events on Twitter, explaining that "A woman in the front row got up to go get a drink. Cosby asked her where she was going. She asked him if he wanted a drink. He said no, he already had one (a bottle of water). Then he continued 'You have to be careful about drinking around me.'"
The audience's reaction was, at first, muddled, but soon turned supportive as the heckler walked out:
Despite the general support for Cosby in the room, there were a few instances of heckling and protest, including one audience member shouting "you are a rapist" and another yelling "we don't love you, with the former being pulled from the crowd:
Meanwhile, outside, protestors handed slips to showgoers, each one showing the name and story of a different Cosby accuser:
Regardless of the Hecklers, though, Cosby still received a standing ovation at the end of the show, mirroring his return to standup in Kitchener on Wednesday:
In response to the show, Cosby's publicist has sent out a statement thanking the audience for their support:
Dear Fans: One outburst but over 2600 loyal, patient and courageous fans enjoyed the most wonderful medicine that exist for human-kind. Laughter. I thank you, the theatre staff (Budweiser Gardens), the event organizers and the London, ON Community for your continued honor and support. I'm Far From Finished,"
Cosby's next scheduled stop is Friday in Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to this run of dates, some 10 shows on his tour were postponed or canceled. More than 20 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault, with three more having stepped forward earlier this week.