January 23, 2018
Bill Cosby seems to be making an unofficial Philadelphia press tour in the countdown to his sexual misconduct retrial scheduled for April.
After dining at Old City’s Ristorante La Veranda with friends and journalists earlier this month and being photographed wearing Eagles gear last week, the defamed comedian performed a surprise show at Germantown’s LaRose Jazz Club on Monday night to a room of about 50, plus invited reporters.
WHYY reported Cosby scatted with the jazz band on stage and told stories about his family and his descent into blindness.
Cosby reportedly did not make mention of any of the multitudes of allegations against him from more than 50 women, many of whom have shared similar stories of Cosby drugging them in an to attempt rape. His retrial set for April – after a June trial, last year, ended in a mistrial and deadlocked jury following 52 hours of deliberations – is on charges stemming from an alleged 2004 incident.
Andrea Constand claims Cosby drugged and molested her in 2004, when she was a 31-year-old staffer at Temple University’s women’s basketball team. Cosby is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault.
WHYY’s Bobby Allyn shared a video from Cosby’s Germantown appearance on Twitter.
Bill Cosby, sitting on a stool in a hoodie at a Philly jazz club, telling stories and working the crowd. No mention yet of his looming trial on sexual assault charges. pic.twitter.com/D7qldKi79B
— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) January 23, 2018
At one point during the act, Cosby asked 11-year-old Mekhi Boone, "Who am I?" Boone responded, "You used to be a comedian."
Bill Cosby surprised some in the audience in Philadelphia last night when he performed a stand-up routine at Club LaRose. When Cosby asked a boy in the audience if he knew who he was, the boy told him, “You used to be a comedian.” pic.twitter.com/uzL9UIqdwd
— Vulture (@vulture) January 23, 2018
As the #MeToo movement brings more sexual assault allegations into the mainstream, many have pondered how events of the last several months will impact Cosby’s retrial. Though he avoided public appearances leading up to the first trial, Cosby seems to be taking the opposite approach this time.
Allyn reported that most of Cosby’s audience greeted him warmly, though Allyn’s Twitter video garnered mixed responses.
Women at the club only willing to sip from juice boxes.
— Nancy Levine (@nancylevine) January 23, 2018
I have been waiting for his come back. I hope he comes back soon not later. #lovehim
— chidozie (@chidozie25) January 23, 2018
And while Mr. Cosby is vilified, trump sits in the white house. Crucify the black man while others walk free and prosper.
— John Washington (@JWashi1) January 23, 2018
That's, like, two blocks away from my house. We boycotted. #fuckthat #TimesUp
— Ada Kase (@AdaKase) January 23, 2018
If you gave me front row seats to see Bill Cosby I'd burn them. #BillCosby
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) January 23, 2018
Bill Cosby is going back to performing live!!! Make sure to get your tickets from Satan!!!!
— R. I. C. K. Y. (@RickyVelez) January 23, 2018
Before Cosby left the club, Allyn asked him how he thinks #MeToo will impact the retrial, though he didn’t get any sort of conclusive answer.
Here is the unforgettable face Cosby made when I asked him how he thinks jurors will see his case differently in the #MeToo era. pic.twitter.com/UVfTtSDsCz
— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) January 23, 2018
“I don’t know,” Cosby reportedly shrugged in response.
