As Bill Cosby took the stage in Kitchener, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, he was wearing a sweater that read “Hello Friend.” It was a warm gesture compared to the greeting his Canadian audience had received earlier that night while entering the theater.
Posting up outside the venue was a group of demonstrators protesting the comedian’s first performance since November, and shaming ticket holders, the AP reports. They carried signs saying “rape is no joke” and shouted at those entering the theater.
The stand-up show comes after more than 20 women have come forward claiming the famed TV dad, now 77, drugged, raped, or sexually assaulted them. Cosby’s lawyer has denied the claims, as women continue to come out of the woodwork with new accusations.
The AP added that the 2,000-seat venue was almost two-thirds full, after some ticket holders said they would boycott the show. His performance was one of three planned for Ontario. Ten performances were cancelled from his North American tour.
Wednesday’s audience gave Cosby a standing ovation following his set, and he left the stage saying, “I had a wonderful time.”
