Judd Apatow fired away at Bill Cosby and the venues still hosting his stand-up gigs on his Twitter this past weekend.
Apatow opened up the lively debate on Friday evening by tweeting at the Centre in the Square in Kitchener, Ontario and asking if the venue would really allow Cosby to perform on their stage next month. The comedian faces nearly two-dozen accusations of rape over the last 50 years.
so @Centre_Square - are you really going to let Bill Cosby perform on your stage January 7?
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014
He also addressed his question to Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario, which plans to host Cosby the next night.
You too @BudGardens Jan 8? Is Cosby only popular in Ontario Canada at this point? Do people still find him delightful after 30 accusers? — Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014
Apatow did retweet a story on the Centre in the Square's website about why the venue had not cancelled Cosby's performance. The venue explains the event is a rental show and only the "external promoter" can cancel the Cosby gig.
"Commercial rental shows at The Centre are crucial for the venue to earn sufficient funds to operate. This show was contracted over a year ago with tickets on sale for a number of months. While we may personally share concerns raised by the community, if The Centre forces a cancellation of this rental show it isn't simply a situation of giving back the rent," the Centre wrote.
The Centre would be contractually obligated to pay back all the tickets sold, Cosby's guaranteed fee, and the promoter for "any losses from box office and show expenses."
“@weskandrews: @alexkinsella @JuddApatow many venues are struggling with this. His standard contract is nutso” and he won't make it easier
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014
Mere minutes into his Twitter discussion, Apatow began to receive replies from other users defending Cosby. The "Knocked Up" director didn't back down and responded to the fans that refuse to believe the number of women who continue to step forward since Hannibal Buress put Cosby back under the microscope following an October stand-up performance.
“@woofmachine: @JuddApatow @Centre_Square innocent until Proven”. He should speak publicly about how false this all is. 30 alibis. — Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014
“@mikeandrewb: @JuddApatow @Centre_Square and ur obsession is because...?” I guess it's because guys who rape a lot aren't cool.
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014
He picked up his tweeting the next day to defend the accusers who run the risk of others not taking their claims seriously.
.@nvraine @Centre_Square I always wonder why some people try so hard to not believe women who have been assaulted. What is the root of that? — Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014
Apatow also gave the spotlight to a couple Twitter users with very few followers whose logic he strongly disagreed with.
.@thebestshave first of all, your Twitter handle is troubling. Also- I am pretty sure I have had sex with less people than he raped.
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 28, 2014
.@EricStambol that kind of attitude will get you 15 followers. Oh- it already did. — Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 28, 2014
By Sunday, Apatow had had enough with the Twitterverse and packed it in.
I think one in a Hundred thousand people support Cosby. I am gonna stop responding to them so often. It is just maddening though. So cold.
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 28, 2014
