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Controversy follows Cosby into Turlock
Bill Cosby 1
Extra security and police patrols are planned for the Sunday performance of Bill Cosby at the Turlock Community Theater. - photo by Photo Contributed

Turlock is once again being thrust into the national spotlight with the planned appearance of beleaguered comedian Bill Cosby at the Turlock Community Theatre.

Cosby’s upcoming show in Turlock on Sunday has been covered by national news outlets, the subject of blogs and a call out from producer and director Judd Apatow on Twitter.

On Jan. 13 Apatow wrote on his Twitter account: “Cosby is coming to the Turlock Community theater in Turlock California in a few weeks. Are these really still happening? Turlock? Come on?”

Cosby’s appearance in Turlock was announced last year and tickets for the show went on sale in August, before allegations of sexual assault began to surface and turn into a media storm. The show sold out quickly and theater officials have said they had no plans to cancel the show. Financially it would be difficult for the Turlock Community Theatre to cancel the show like other venues have done, because the theatre would have to still pay Cosby his fee, along with the ticket refunds. A few ticket holders have requested the theatre’s help in re-selling tickets and a few parties have taken to Craigslist to sell their tickets, with prices starting at $75.

The theatre does plan to have extra security for the show and the Turlock Police Department will have two officers working on overtime doing patrol in the area of the theatre.

More than a dozen accusations from women claiming they were drugged and sexually assaulted by Cosby have surfaced in the last few months. The most recent comes from 24-year-old Chloe Goins, who told the Los Angeles Police Department she was sexually assaulted by Cosby in 2008. She claims he drugged and assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion. Cosby’s attorney Martin D. Singer released a statement Friday saying Cosby was not at the Playboy Mansion on the night in question and has evidence to prove his client was in New York at the time. Singer has previously called the other accusations unsubstantiated and absurd.

Cosby’s promoters cancelled 10 shows in 2014 prior to a tour hiatus in November. He returned to his comedy show in January with shows in Canada, which drew a few hecklers and protesters. Prior to Sunday’s show in Turlock, Cosby will be performing two shows in Denver on Saturday. The Denver Post reports several ticket holders have been requesting refunds for the shows. Attorney Gloria Allred is planning a “Teach-in” in Denver to discuss the sexual assault allegations.

On Friday, NBC announced it will not be working with Cosby again. The announcement comes after the network said it had scrapped a project with the comedian.