Bill Cosby's Denver Shows To Go On, Despite Expected Protests
DENVER (CBS4) - Famed women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred is planning a demonstration during two performances by Bill Cosby in Denver this weekend. The celebrity attorney is representing women who claim Cosby sexually assaulted them.
The comedian is scheduled to perform twice on Saturday at the Buell Theater. Last September concert promoters who booked the shows surely wouldn't have expected to see protesters outside the concert. But in November allegations began swirling about Cosby.
One of Cosby's alleged victim's says they will be at the weekend demonstration, but she declined to speak to CBS4 Tuesday night.
"On a personal level, if any of that is true, I'm appalled, I'm disgusted," said AEG Live president and CEO Chuck Morris, who was involved in booking the shows.
But personal tastes and headlines won't keep Cosby from Denver's stage. Morris said Cosby was specific about wanting to play, even after being asked if he'd cancel.
"The fact of the matter is he's not been charged with anything, he's hasn't been convicted of anything. I don't feel like I have the right to be judge and jury, and I have an obligation to the over 3,000 people that have bought tickets," Morris said.
Cosby has been under intense public scorn as more and more women accuse him of sexual assault and detail how the comedian took advantage of them. The debacle has had little effect on his schedule, but a major effect on his shows.
At a show in Canada a heckler interrupted Cosby's set after a joke referenced the rape allegations. Throughout the tour Cosby has been seeing more open seats. Normally a sellout act, about 4,000 tickets haven't been sold for his Denver shows.
AEG says they would have been fine if Cosby had canceled, saying the decision was all his, not a reaction to protesters.
"If I canceled every show that we had some people that protested a particular artist, we'd have a lot less concerts -- and not to say some of the causes might be right," Morris said.
Morris said anyone who purchased tickets to one of Cosby's shows can get a refund.
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