Bill Cosby Launches Comeback After Prison Release – Planning 2023 Comedy Tour

It’s been over a year since Bill Cosby was freed from prison when his sexual assault conviction was overturned after he’d served nearly three years behind bars. The 85 year-old is now revealing that he has big plans for 2023, as he’s even planning a comedy tour for the new year.

Cosby Plots Comeback

During a surprise interview on Wednesday morning, Cosby replied with an emphatic “yes” when he was asked if he would finally start touring again in 2023.

“When I come out of this, I feel that I will be able to perform and be the Bill Cosby that my audience knows me to be,” Cosby said, according to Variety.

When specifically asked if he’s planning a tour in 2023, Cosby replied, “Yes. Yes, because there’s so much fun to be had in this storytelling that I do. Years ago, maybe 10 years ago, I found it was better to say it after I write it.”

Cosby’s longtime rep Andrew Wyatt has since confirmed that the former “Cosby Show” star is “looking at spring/summer to start touring.”

https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1608176755206131712

Related: Bill Cosby Has New TV Show In The Works Months After Getting Out Of Prison

Cosby Hit With New Sexual Assault Lawsuit

This comes weeks after five women, two of whom were actresses on “The Cosby Show,” filed a lawsuit against Cosby in New York accusing him of “drugging, groping and raping them” in cases that allegedly took place between 1969 and 1991. Daily Mail reported that the five women have identified themselves as Lili Bernard, Eden Tirl, Jewel Gittens, Jennifer Thompson, and Cindra Ladd, and they claim that Cosby “used his power, fame, and prestige” in “a nefarious, horrific way” to abuse them.

Aside from suing Cosby, the women are also suing the New York City studio where “The Cosby Show” was filmed, and NBCUniversal, which produced the sitcom.

“Over the course of several decades, Bill Cosby engaged in the serial sexual assault of dozens of women for his sexual gratification while the co-defendants enabled and aided these sexual assaults to benefit financially by their association with Bill Cosby,” the lawsuit stated.

Bernard and Tirl both had small roles on “The Cosby Show,” which was on from 1984 until 1992. The five women filed their lawsuit through the Adult Survivors Act, which Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed six months ago. This act has opened a “lookback window” for accusers to file civil claims of sexual assault, even if they exceed the statute of limitations. 

Related: Bill Cosby Learns His Fate From Supreme Court

Cosby Fires Back 

Cosby fired back through his spokesman Wyatt, who claimed that the lawsuit was “frivolous” and that the five women behind it were part of a “parade of accusers” who have accused the comedian of sexual misconduct in recent years.

“As we have always stated, and now America can see, this isn’t about justice for victims of alleged sexual assault, it’s ALL ABOUT MONEY,” Wyatt said.

“We believe that the courts, as well as the court of public opinion, will follow the rules of law and relieve Mr. Cosby of these alleged accusations,” he added. “Mr. Cosby continues to vehemently deny all allegations waged against him and looks forward to defending himself in court.”

Cosby was convicted of sexual assault in Pennsylvania in 2018, and he was sentenced to three to ten years in prison. He was freed last year, however, after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction. 

Cosby may be a free man, but he seems to have been convicted in the court of public opinion years ago after dozens of women came forward to accuse him of drugging and sexually assaulting them. He may want to think twice about launching a comedy tour next year, because one can’t help but think he’s going to have a lot of difficulty selling tickets.