Even as he faces a new sexual assault lawsuit, comedian Bill Cosby has announced plans to tour in 2023. The tour, which is set to begin in the spring, will feature Cosby performing stand-up comedy and speaking engagements.
This announcement comes in the midst of a new lawsuit against Cosby, filed by a woman who accuses him of sexual assault. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, claims that the assault occurred in the 1970s.
Cosby, who is now in his eighties, has been the subject of numerous sexual assault allegations over the past several years. In 2018, he was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee. He is currently serving a three-to-10-year prison sentence for his crimes.
Despite his legal troubles, Cosby maintains his innocence and continues to proclaim his innocence in the new lawsuit. Through his publicist, he released a statement saying: “The new lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to harass and extort money from Mr. Cosby. He will not be paying any settlement or making any payments of any kind.”
Cosby’s decision to tour, despite the new lawsuit and ongoing legal troubles, has caused some controversy. Many feel that it is inappropriate for him to continue performing given the serious nature of the allegations against him.
However, Cosby’s representatives have defended the tour, saying that he has a right to continue working and that the tour is not intended to be a commentary on the legal case. They also said that the tour would not be canceled because of the new lawsuit.
The new lawsuit and Cosby’s planned tour in 2023 are the latest developments in a long-running legal and public relations battle for the once-beloved comedian. While his planned tour has been met with criticism, it seems that Cosby intends to move forward and continue performing.