A group of hecklers disrupted Bill Cosby’s third and final Canadian show in Hamilton, shouting “we believe the women” at the entertainer before walking out of the theatre.
Shortly after Cosby took the stage at Hamilton Place Theatre on Friday night, the group stood up from their seats and began chanting “we believe the women.”
When some members of the audience began to scold the hecklers, Cosby asked them to stop.
"They've had their say and we can calmly let them out,” Cosby said. “Now, if I may."
The audience applauded when the star continued his stand-up routine.
Prior to the heckling, Cosby indirectly acknowledged the controversy surrounding him.
“Whatever happens here tonight if there’s some sort of outburst, we just have to remain calm and things will be taken care of,” Cosby said. “It oughtn’t last that long.
“I want to thank all of you here tonight because stayed with what you believed in.”
After the show, Cosby released a statement that thanked his fans for supporting him.
“Your laughter continues to make me SMILE. I would like to thank each and every one of you for coming and enduring the freezing temperatures,” he said in a statement released Friday night.
Protestors demonstrate outside
Prior to the show, ticket-holder Wendy Burn told The Canadian Press that Cosby is entitled to earn a living.
“He’s innocent until proven guilty.”
Outside the Hamilton venue, protesters demonstrated with signs.
Kathryn Baker-Reed said they were trying to send a message to both Cosby and his accusers.
“We need to listen to the survivors of violence,” she said.
On Thursday, the 77-year-old performed his second Canadian gig in London, where he was heckled by an audience member who called the comedian a rapist in the middle of the show.
When the crowd booed the individual, Cosby urged them to have “patience,” and continued with his act once police officers removed the individual from the venue.
But the Ontario shows have gone on mostly without incident, as protesters mainly demonstrated outside the venues.
In both London and at the first show -- in Kitchener, Ont., on Wednesday -- demonstrators carried signs and shouted “Shame on you” at ticket-holders arriving for the nearly two-hour set.
Some protesters said they were trying to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women in light of the sexual assault allegations against Cosby.
At least 18 women have come forward in recent months, saying Cosby drugged or sexually assaulted them, or both. Cosby’s lawyer has denied many of the allegations, and the entertainer has never been criminally charged in connection with any of the alleged incidents.
The allegations prompted local organizations to call for the cancellation of Cosby’s Canadian tour dates, but promoters said they were contractually obligated to go ahead with the performances.
Cosby has not publicly commented on the controversy, but he appeared to make a seemingly spontaneous reference to it during his London show.
Minutes before the heckling incident, a woman in the front row got up and walked past the stage. When Cosby asked where she was going, the woman said that she was heading to the lobby to grab a drink.
Cosby responded, prompting laughter from the audience: “You have to be careful about drinking around me.”
Audiences appeared mostly pleased with the shows, with Cosby receiving standing ovations each night.
With files from The Canadian Press
