Cosby cancels shows in Boston; women’s group was to protest

BOSTON (AP) -- Bill Cosby cancelled his Sunday stand-up comedy performances in Boston and the theater said tickets will be refunded but didn't offer a reason for abrupt change.

The Wilbur Theater posted an announcement on its website Sunday morning. The theater apologized for the short notice but didn't give any more information.

A spokesman for Cosby, who has a home in western Massachusetts, did not respond to requests for comment.

Several Boston-area women's groups said they planned to gather outside the theater and called for the cancellation of Cosby's two Sunday shows.

Helen Gumpel, a model and actress who appeared in an episode of "The Cosby Show," is also expected to hold a news conference at a Boston hotel Sunday afternoon to talk about sexual advances she alleges the 77-year-old entertainer made.

The cancellations come as New England is in the midst of another snowstorm expected to bring nearly two feet of snow to the Boston area through Tuesday.

Cosby faces sexual assault accusations from at least 15 women, with some of the claims dating back decades. He denies the allegations and has never been charged with a crime. Some of his performances elsewhere have drawn heckling and protests. Some have been canceled but none as abruptly as Sunday's.

Wilbur Theater owner Bill Blumenreich said he had been planning to tighten security inside and outside the venue as a precaution.

© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed