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Activists had planned to picket the evening performance at
the Wilbur Theater, angry that Cosby continues to make
appearances despite the allegations against him.
Cosby, best known for the lovable father figure he played on
"The Cosby Show," denies the allegations of sexual assault, many
of which are decades old and fall outside the statute of
limitations for criminal or civil cases. His lawyer has called
the claims "discredited" and "defamatory." Cosby has never been
charged over any of the allegations. He settled a 2005 civil
suit alleging sexual misconduct.
About a foot (30 cm) of fresh snow could accumulate in Boston on
Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, blanketing a
region that is still grappling with the aftermath of two major
snowstorms since the end of January.
"Mr. Cosby just wanted all people coming to his shows to be
safe," said spokesman Andrew Miles. "It had nothing to do with
any protests."
Despite the Boston cancellation, protesters said they still
planned to demonstrate. "We are holding a solidarity action
instead of a protest, same time and place," Brandie Skorker, 28,
one of the protest organizers, said in an email.
Before the cancellation, organizers had expected more than 100
people to gather outside the theater, where the 77-year-old
comedian was set to give back-to-back shows.
"There is strong community here in Boston who is passionate,
concerned for survivors and dedicated to fighting against rape
culture - even if that means protesting in the snow," Skorker
said in an email last week.
The allegations against Cosby have led some venues to cancel
some of his performances, including one that had been planned on
Feb. 6 in Worcester, Massachusetts, about 40 miles (65 km) west
of Boston. Both Netflix and NBC have axed planned projects with
the actor.
Cosby owns a home in Shelburne Falls, about 100 miles (160 km)
west of Boston, and he received his graduate degree from the
University of Massachusetts Amherst. In November, the university
asked him to resign as the face of a fundraising campaign.
Cosby's statement indicated that he was considering rescheduling
the Boston show but gave no specifics. "We are looking at some
dates," Miles told Reuters.
(Additional reporting by Letitia Stein in Tampa; Editing By
Frank McGurty, Robin Pomeroy and Frances Kerry)
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Comedian
Bill Cosby cancels Boston show due to weather
