Actor and comedian Bill Cosby, who is currently facing multiple accusations of rape, received a standing ovation at a show in Kitchener, Ontario on Wednesday night, according to CBC News.
The performance was said to have drawn an audience that filled two-thirds of the 2,000-seat Centre in the Square. The show is the initial leg of the 77-year-old comedian's "Far From Finished" tour of Canada and his first since November.
A number of individuals who had bought tickets to the show said they would boycott the performance when rape accusations against Cosby started to mount in recent months, according to a report by BBC.
Some of those who attended, on the other hand, either showed disbelief in the accusations or gave Cosby the benefit of the doubt.
"Why are 20 women coming out now when it's 20, 30 years ago," said one of the attendees.
"Innocent until proven guilty. I'm hoping it's not true and until I know, otherwise I love him to death," said another.
A group of protesters picketed the venue, with some holding signs and shouting, "I hope you had a great time, rape is still a crime," as attendees left the theatre.
The group's leader, Katie Gosen, said they were there to remind the audience members of the rape accusations against Cosby.
"If they came here with those feelings [of guilt] but there was no one there to validate what was actually happening, it would probably be easier for them to write them off," Gosen said.
Since November, more than 15 women have come forward with accusations of sexual assault against the actor, who became a well-loved personality when he starred in American TV sitcom "The Cosby Show,"
The most recent accusations surfaced on Wednesday, when three women claimed in a press conference that they were attacked by Cosby in the early 1980s, according to The Independent. Lawyer Gloria Allred introduced two of the women as Linda Kirkpatrick and Lynn Neal, while the third accuser was identified only as "Kacey."
Many of the women who have made their allegations said they were drugged by Cosby before he sexually assaulted them.
Cosby, who has not been formally charged in relation to the accusations, has repudiated the allegations and described them as "fantastical" and "uncorroborated."
After the show in Kitchener, the comedian issued a press release where he thanked the attendees.
"I would like to personally thank you for giving me the opportunity to bring laughter back into your lives tonight. Also, I would like to applaud all of you and give you a standing ovation for respecting yourselves, the theatre and the event organizers that produced a spectacular show for the Kitchener community," the statement said.
The second and last legs of Cosby's tour are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario and the Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton, respectively.