Despite
a seventh woman accusing him of sexual assault, Bill Cosby’s tour is still
going ahead as planned, with venues saying cancellation is not an option
because of financial pressures.
Bjorn
Olsson, the executive director of the Tarrytown Music Hall in New York,
released a statement which addressed calls for the venue to cancel Cosby’s date
on 6 December. Olsson said that cancellation could prove so costly to the venue
that it would have to reduce staff as a result.
Writing
on the venue’s Facebook page, he stated that even though the show was booked by
an outside promoter, the venue would still have to pay Cosby a guarantee fee if
they cancelled.
He
said: “Since he is a very expensive artist, this would be a tremendous blow to
the Music Hall, likely to force layoffs and cuts in our community programs. So,
in short, cancelling the show or refunding tickets would not hurt Bill Cosby –
only the Music Hall, a non-profit organisation, and the promoter.”
The
statement follows one from Cosby’s management that was posted on the website of
the Maxwell C King Center for the Performing Arts in Florida, which said the
show would go on regardless of the accusations against Cosby.
“Mr
Cosby is a well-respected member of the entertainment community and one of
America’s most beloved performers,” it stated.
“While
we are aware of the allegations reported in the press, we are only in a
position to judge him based on his career as an entertainer and humanitarian.”
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