Will Bill Cosby's Upcoming PPAC Performance Cause Controversy?

Will Bill Cosby's Upcoming PPAC Performance Cause Controversy?

Comedian Bill Cosby, who has been subject to an increasing number of sexual assault allegations, is scheduled to perform in Providence at the Providence Performing Arts Center on June 26 -- and PPAC has refused to comment on the matter.  

On Friday, PPAC referred all comments to Cosby's promoter Ed Atamian, who provided the statement put forth by Cosby's lawyer John Schmitt on November 15.  

"Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the outpouring of support and assure them that, at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will be no further statement from Mr. Cosby or any of his representatives," said Schmitt.    

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

"We have no further comment at this time," said PPAC's Caitlyn DiPompo.  

In contrast, neighboring Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA -- where Cosby is scheduled to play in February -- thought it was "very likely" the performance will be cancelled. 

"As the performance venue, our contract is with the promoter, who rents the building and contracts with Bill Cosby to perform," said Lisa Condit with Hanover.  "We think it’s very likely that the promoter (or Cosby himself) will cancel this performance, which would be far preferable to us as it would not open us up to legal action."

Condit continued, "Our audience and our image in the community are of the utmost importance to us, and we ask your patience to bear with us as the situation plays out."

Cosby Caught in Firestorm of Controversy

On Friday, Business Insider recapped some of the professional ramifications Cosby has incurred so far in light of multiple sexual assault allegations.  Cosby has not been found guilty in the court of law, but did settle a civil lawsuit stemming from sexual assault allegations in 2006.   

"While Cosby has never been criminally charged with sexual assault, these accusations have hurt his career recently. Netflix has indefinitely delayed the release of a Cosby stand-up special, NBC stopped development on a new sitcom starring Cosby, and TV Land is going to stop airing reruns of "The Cosby Show," wrote Business Insider's Pamela Engel.  

The tickets listed on the PPAC website for Cosby's show run from $50 to $100, with PPAC billing the show as Cosby's "clean, true-to-life humor [that] has the unique ability to touch the hearts of many people."

Andy Beal, who is the author of Repped: 30 Days to a Better Online Reputation, told GoLocal that he viewed the intersection of Cosby's legal and public relations advice as being problematic for the performer.  

"When faced with allegations of criminal conduct it's common that legal counsel recommend that you not comment. However, in the case of Mr. Cosby--someone that is vocal on many issues--his silence could be taken as a sign of guilt," said Beal. "A strongly worded statement of denial and an explanation that he expects to be vindicated by the judicial process, would help to fill the void that is currently being filled by speculation and rumor. The current attempts by his lawyers to run interference are not helping his situation."

Providence Women's, Advocacy Groups on the Record

Sierra Barter, who founded the PVD Lady Project, addressed the allegations of sexual assault made against Cosby -- and their ramifications.  

"With the number of women coming forward, with their story, [it] speaks volumes," said Barter.  "You also see his major partners pulling out-- NBC, Netflix, TV Land, which makes it feel like they know something that the general public doesn't know. Either way, we need to take these victims' reports seriously and not demean these accusations."

"The majority of rapes go unreported and most rapists are never punished for the actions -- these accusations range from happening in the 60's to as recently as 2004," continued Barter.  "Society as a whole needs to stop blaming the victim and focus on the crime and the person who committed it, rather than dismissing these claims."

"This is a sad situation for the women at hand-- that they had to hide their stories for so long. I commend them for speaking up about these accusations and for sharing their story," said Barter.  "I hope that others do not support [Cosby] by going to his shows and venues do not host him."

Peg Langhammer with DayOne, the sexual assualt trauma and resource center, said that the entire situation was refective of "everything changing."

"I think the real issue here is none of these facts are new, they've been out for decades.  But what is new, and what has changed, is the public response and the heightened awareness of sexual assault, which is so encouraging," said Langhammer.  "We know what the prevalance has been -- that hasn't changed -- but what has it that survivors now have the hope that their voices will be heard and believed."

"Part of what's made it so different is the Internet --  statments that are made, they will go viral," said Langhammer.  "And so was Cosby's refusal to say anything during the NPR interview.  His silence equally went viral.  I think it's very difficult for some people to believe that America's family man, someone so beloved, could be accused of all these allegations.  And I'm not going to comment on whether he is guilty, or not.  But he does need to respond.  His silence is not OK, and people are realizing that more and more."