Legendary comedian Bill Cosby is set to perform at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this Saturday, but many protesters and activists are hoping the show will be canceled. A large-scale protest has been planned before the show and an online petition is trying to cancel the show before it even starts.
Here is what we know so far:
- Cosby, 77, has been accused of rape and sexual assault by over 40 women. Time reports 3 more accusers came forward in a press conference held last Thursday.
- While many fellow comedians and entertainers report Cosby's reputation with women was common throughout Hollywood's inner-circle, the accusations gained publicity after comedian Hannibal Buress did a two-minute bit about Cosby calling Cosby a rapist during a show last October. The remark was filmed by an audience member with a cell phone, uploaded online, and instantly became viral.
- Civil-rights attorney Gloria Allred, who represents several of the accusers including the three latest, acknowledged a protest is planned for Cosby's show in Atlanta. Allred plans to attend Saturday's protest.
- An online petition urging the tour's promoter, Outback Promotions, to cancel the show has over 12,000 signatures.
- A Facebook page for the grassroots group We Support the Survivors of Bill Cosby details the plans for the protest, stating "a group of survivors and their allies will be staging a large-scale, peaceful, protest at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre to demonstrate support for the dozens of survivors of Bill Cosby and for sexual assault victims everywhere. The goal is to make this show, the LAST show Bill Cosby will ever perform."
- Cosby released a 19 second video on Monday to promote the Atlanta show. The video does not allude to or address the allegations or planned protest.
- The Atlanta show appears to be the only active date left on the tour's schedule.
- Tickets on Stubhub are currently priced as low as $24.85, way below face value.
- The protest is scheduled to begin at 5:30pm on May 2 in front of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
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