The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FANS of Bill Cosby last night gave the renowned comedian - who has been the focus of renewed claims of sexual assault - a partial standing ovation after his show at Atlantis.

The American star performed for an hour and a half to a nearly full audience at the Atlantis Live Theatre as part of a charity benefit for the Nassau Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Among the high-profile list of attendees, Minister of State for Investment Khaalis Rolle said the high turnout was due to the charitable nature of the event.

“The impact (of allegations) has yet to be seen locally,” Mr Rolle said, “in the US for obvious reasons those networks are concerned about their image and their ratings, but you still have to account for the fact that they are just allegations. Nothing has been proven so you try to balance giving an individual the benefit of the doubt, but also accounting for what people are saying.

“Where do you strike that balance is always the question,” he said.

“The turnout was a good, and a high profile one, you had individuals from a cross-section of society and you also had many Americans in there also, many guests staying at the Atlantis came out to see the routine. It was the first time I’ve seen him, he is the Bill Cosby that I grew up watching on TV in terms of what he presented on stage.

Mr Rolle added: “Despite Bill’s issues, I think he is a good comedian, I think his kind of routine is acceptable, it’s clean, it reflected life and it was enjoyable. I believe because it was for a local charity event people did not stay away.”

The Links is an established international non-profit organisation consisting of 12,000 influential professional women of colour, with 280 chapters in 41 US states and one in the Bahamas.

Proceeds from the show will support services of the Nassau Charter, which outlines its two major areas of service as their Safe House for Women in Crisis, and the Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home.

Franon Wilson, president of Arawak Homes, said: “It was absolutely amazing, I grew up watching the Cosby Show. I bought a couple DVDs for my kids to watch because I believe it’s wholesome and a great TV show.

“To see him in person for the first time in my life, and he was amazing, he’s still funny as could be.”

When asked if he felt the renewed allegations had any impact on the event turnout, or his own consideration, Mr Wilson said: “I just wanted to see Cosby.”

Several women have accused Mr Cosby, one of America’s favourite stars, of sexual assaults going back almost 30 years. The comedian has always denied the accusations and has never faced any charges.

However, this week Mr Cosby’s comedy shows on NBC and Netflix were axed after the allegations resurfaced.

Last night, Alfred Sears, College Council Chairman at College of the Bahamas, pointed to the historic relationship between Mr Cosby and the Bahamas through his relationship with Sydney Poitier.

“When I was a student at St Augustines College, Bill Cosby performed at a benefit along with Sydney Poitier,” he said, “this would have been in the early 70s, I think around 1970 or 71. So he [Cosby] has a long association with the Bahamas and with Bahamians, and as you know he would have collaborated with Sydney Poitier in a number of movies. So I’m not surprised at the attendance and that he was able to draw from his observations of life in the Bahamas.”

Mr Sears said: “Tonight is for a cause, and I think that he [Cosby] has contributed to the cause. In terms of the other issues, the court of law and the court of public opinion will deal with those issues.”

“I think the show was very insightful, he drew on common human experiences within a relationship of a family in a very honest, and very witty and insightful manner.”

He added: “I think everybody is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty certain we’re talking about someone who has a lifetime of incredible achievement and contribution to society and to academia.”