Bill Cosby Fires Back at Heckler Who Shouts Rape Joke From the Audience

"We are here to enjoy my gift"

By Francesca Bacardi Mar 30, 2015 8:00 PMTags
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Bill Cosby continues to be heckled by audience members attending his stand-up comedy shows.

The latest incident took place Friday evening while the Cosby Show star was performing in Baltimore at the Lyric Opera House. Only minutes into Cosby's performance, a man stood up from the audience and shouted, "38 women spoke up and called you a rapist."

According to the Baltimore City Paper, the heckler added, "Tell the one about how to get away with rape." In a video posted online, several other fans can be heard telling him to "shut up," but it was the comedian who ultimately stood up to him when he said, "Just remain calm," before adding, "We are here to enjoy my gift. We are not here to argue. Let those people speak. We will find them and ask them to leave."

Crook was ultimately removed by security, but there were more protestors waiting outside the Lyric Opera House who were shouting, "Your fame won't shame anyone!"

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"I stood up to Bill Cosby tonight because I believe the 38 women who have come forward so far to accuse him of raping them," he said. "I can't speak for those women, but I am determined to stand up with them and tell Mr. Cosby that he cannot simply avoid answering for those crimes.

"I wanted [Cosby] to have to face, even if only for a moment, that reality before security escorted me out and allowed him to retreat to the comfort and embrace of audience willing to ignore those women," he added.

Cosby was also heckled earlier this year in Canada. The 77-year-old comedian, who has never been charged with a crime stemming from the accusations, faced a crowd of about 30 women who stood up from their seats and removed their coats to reveal T-shirts with the words "We Believe the Women" printed across the front, per The Hollywood Reporter.

While the women shouted at the comedian others stood up from the crowd and defended him. "We believe Cosby!" a male audience member shouted, drawing applause. "We believe Cosby!"

Another man shouted, "We love you, Bill!"