One of the most notorious cases of sexual harassment/assault that gained major media traction has been that of Bill Cosby, whose antics have tarnished the once-loved comedian's reputation. The actor and star of The Cosby Show had been accused of sexually assaulting over a dozen women during his lengthy reign in the public consciousness, and has since sent the disgraced entertainer into a forced exile.
However, last night, Cosby stepped out of hiding in order to take part in an event that celebrated jazz musician Tony Williams. Dressed in his signature "Hello Friend" sweatshirt and a pair of denim, the actor sat on a stool for most of his set, while engaging in a friendly banter with the audience.
The 80-year old actor joked that he "used to be a comedian," while NBC 10 Philadelphia asked Cosby if he had any comments regarding his upcoming retrial for sexual assault, to which he responded "no ma’am. I came here tonight to enjoy being with my friends and musicians and the people who came."
Most of the jokes centred around the comedian's increasingly diminishing eyesight, joking with his audience that "if you see a blind person walking into a pole or something, if you speak perfect English, there’s a word called ‘Stop!’ Not ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Throughout his one hour set, Cosby made several references to his love for his wife and daughter.
According to Cosby's spokesperson, the actor took part in this sparsely attended event in order to "honour his fans with a historic performance." Peep a clip from the performance below: