Legendary comic Bill Cosby calmly swatted off a couple of hecklers during his show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Saturday night.
Before the concert, 20 protesters outside the venue chanted “We believe the women,” referencing the dozens of women who have publicly accused him of sexual assault and, in many cases, rape.
Unlike the concert featuring comic Lewis Black the night before at the same venue, security was significantly enhanced. Concertgoers were checked for weapons and required to show ID.
Employees checked a list of more than 30 people not allowed to enter the venue, many who had publicly stated in Web forums that they planned to disrupt Cosby during his show. Famed attorney Gloria Allred and Bonnie Upton, who lives in New Jersey, were among those turned away.
“It wasn’t unexpected and it proves that he knows that there is significant opposition,” Upton said.
Before the show, an announcer warned the half-filled auditorium:“If there are disruptions, stay calm. Do not confront the person making the disruption.”
Indeed, two people interrupted Cosby. One man’s rant was more like performance art, where he said he was like “Cosby’s sweater.” The other - Ashley Leonard from Wilmington, N.C. - evaded the “do not enter” list and while Cosby was telling a childhood story about his mom threatening to beat him, she stood up and yelled, “She didn’t beat out of you how you treat women!”
The crowd quickly drowned her out with boos. Cosby stood up and stopped the boos as she was escorted away: “Stop it! This is our show. It will be over soon.”
Both were quietly escorted out of Cobb Energy.
This was the only show Cosby had left on his tour schedule after several others were cancelled or postponed.
