Bill Cosby’s performances in southern Ontario will go on as scheduled next week, the promoter of the events says.
Citing “crippling legal obstacles,” Innovation Arts and Entertainment issued a press release Friday saying it would not cancel the upcoming shows in London, Kitchener and Hamilton.
“Legally, a cancellation ‘option’ does not exist,” the release said.
“If the contracted artist plans to appear, IAE and the venue, are contractually, and legally bound to enable it.”
According to the release – the first public statement issued by the promoter – Innovation was informed by the entertainer’s representatives as recently as Friday morning that Cosby planned to go through with the shows.
“He has every intent to perform these events,” it said.
In recent months, allegations of sexual misconduct involving more than a dozen women and dating back through Cosby’s career have swirled around the comedian, although no charges have been laid.
The statement also said that Innovation is working with local police and security groups to ensure the audience watching Cosby at Centre in the Square remains safe, and asked those displeased with Cosby’s appearance not to blame the venues themselves.
“Each of these venues deserve not to be solely measured by the performance of Mr. Cosby, but by the full contribution they make to their communities,” it said.
“The fact that an artist is performing on stages at each of these venues is no endorsement, in any way, of behavior of that artist.”
In Kitchener, an event called Voices Carry has been organized for the same night as Cosby’s performance, to support survivors of sexual violence.
