More Cosby shows canceled

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Performances by Bill Cosby in Nevada, Illinois, Arizona, South Carolina and Washington have been canceled as more women come forward accusing the entertainer of sexually assaulting them many years ago.

The director of The Broadway Center in Tacoma, Washington, said Friday that it has canceled Cosby’s April 18 appearance because it conflicts with the nonprofit organization’s mission “to strengthen our community’s social fabric by building empathy, furthering education and sharing joy.”

“We were not confident in our ability to meet those objectives by proceeding with Mr. Cosby’s performance,” David Fischer said.

Cosby’s lawyer has said claims by four women are untrue; a statement from Cosby on Sunday dismissed most of the others as “decade-old, discredited allegations.”

A sold-out Cosby comedy show in Melbourne, Florida, Friday night went on as planned. The 77-year-old comedian, wearing cargo pants and a shirt that said “Hello Friend,” took the stage to a standing ovation and loud applause. One person shouted, “We love you, Bill.”

Outside the theater, one protester held a sign that read, “Rape is no joke.”

Julie Lemaitre, 47, of Rockledge, Florida, said she was there just to have a presence and to try to say to people attending “think about what you’re doing.”

Cosby’s producers said at least 29 other shows remain on his schedule through May 2015.

Other shows were canceled, though. Officials at the Treasure Island hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip said Friday they mutually agreed with the comedian to cancel his Nov. 28 performance. No reason was given by the Diamond Desert casino in Tucson, Arizona, for canceling his Feb. 15 show.

Two other appearances, scheduled for April in Champaign, Illinois, also were called off Friday, as were February shows in Reno, Nevada, and in Florence, South Carolina.

A few fans in Florida, though, said they were at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts to see good comedy and that the accusations didn’t influence them.

“Let them prove it. It’s old accusations,” said Paul Palmieri, 47, of Melbourne, who said he was ready to see “the king of comedy.”

Jim Millican, 67, of Cocoa, Florida, agreed.

“The press has tried him,” he said, noting that prosecutors didn’t bring charges. “These women, if they want to settle it, they should settle it in court.”

Still, projects on NBC and Netflix have been canceled, and TV Land decided not to air reruns of “The Cosby Show” after recent allegations by more than six women that Cosby sexually assaulted them after giving them pills many years ago.

Josette Tornabene, 24, of Melbourne said she bought her ticket Friday for the show there, motivated by a radio station that was offering $1,000 to interrupt the performance. Before the show, an announcer warned that such a disruption was possible.

“I wanted to see someone call him out,” she said. “I want to see him be held accountable.”

Some of the women accusing Cosby are going public again after initially coming forward around 2005, when Andrea Constand filed a civil suit alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him. The Pennsylvania woman’s lawyer said other women were prepared to make similar claims, but the case was settled before trial.