Bill Cosby takes Denver stage amid protests, sex-assault claims

DENVER – About 100 people chanting “Rape is not a joke!” and “No means no!” protested outside a theater in Denver before comedian Bill Cosby took the stage Saturday, but his performance went on without a disturbance.

Earlier in the day, a woman held a news conference at a nearby hotel to accuse him of sexually assaulting her in 1986.

Beth Ferrier told the gathering called by Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred that Cosby put drugs in her coffee when she went to see one of his shows in Denver.

“I cannot tell you how horrific of a feeling that is,” she said, adding that the next thing she remembered was waking up hours later in the back of her car “practically naked.”

Ferrier, 55, has previously said she was assaulted by Cosby. She said in 2005 that as a model visiting New York in the early 1980s, she met Cosby and they had a brief affair.

The 77-year-old comedian is facing sexual assault accusations from at least 15 women, with some of the claims dating back decades. He has denied the allegations through his attorney and has never been charged with a crime.

Cosby was welcomed to the stage during his first of two shows with a standing ovation and hoots of “We love you Bill!”