The rape-allegation maelstrom swirling around Bill Cosby rages: Three more women accused the comedian of sexual assault on Thursday, while producers behind The Cosby Show claimed ignorance. Actress Louisa Moritz, who played Rose in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, told TMZ that Cosby forced her to engage in oral sex before a 1971 Tonight Show appearance; Carla Ferrigno (Lou Ferrigno's wife) told Rumorfix he attacked and grabbed her at a party in 1967; and Therese Serignese, a Florida nurse, told the Huffington Post that he drugged and raped her in 1976. She is one of 13 women who were set to testify against Cosby in a 2005 lawsuit before the case was settled.
I have been purposefully avoiding this topic because, well because I fucking love Bill Cosby.
I remember like it was yesterday when my elementary school teacher allowed me to listen to a Bill Cosby album for the first time, once I had finished my work before all of the other kids.
She brought out one of those listening centers, which featured an adapter with eight headphone jacks on it, and the other end stuck into an old school phonograph that was playing the comedy album.
I don't remember which one it was, but holy crap was it funny.
I laughed so hard and so long that the teacher had to unplug me because I was disturbing the other children, though she promised I could finish it later in the day when the other students were not taking a test.
After that I listened to ALL of his comedy albums, and followed his career obsessively.
I of course was also a big fan of the Cosby Show, which I naively believed was a depiction of his actual life.
So to be honest, I just don't want to hear this. Not do I want to talk about it. I just don't want to.
However there is one name mentioned above that has changed my mind.
Carla Ferrigno.
Now she may not be well known to you, but in my teens I was an avid bodybuilder and a big fan of Lou Ferrigno. So I know all about his marriage to the incredibly sweet and supportive Carla.
It is NOT that I did not believe the other women, because I did. It is because until I felt a personal connection to the story I just felt it was something better left to others to cover.
It's not about Alaska, it's not about politics, it's not about religion, and it's not about Sarah Palin so I guess I thought I could give it a pass.
Not anymore.
And part of the reason I feel that way has to do with Sarah Palin.
You know how we are always bitching about reporters ignoring babygate because talking about it makes them uncomfortable, or they would really rather not know the truth?
Well that was what I was doing with this story. I don't like the facts that I am hearing so I don't want to report on them.
Same thing. And that makes me a hypocrite.
Well not anymore.
Bill Cosby is now a 77 year old man, but that does not mean that what he did should be swept under the carpet. Nor should it mean that he can continue to pretend to be a person that has little resemblance to who he is in real life.
If this were one incident in his youth, perhaps this could be chalked up to a drunken episode that he never repeated again. But this is not that. If the evidence is true, and there is no reason at this time to doubt that it is, than Cosby is a serial rapist who used drugs, alcohol, and sometimes force to take sexual advantage of young women. And THAT makes him the worst possible kind of man.
Here is the AP interview that everybody is talking about.
Did you see that? He not only refused to discuss these allegations, but he then attempted to bully the reporter into not releasing the video.
Clearly this is a tactic that has worked well for him in the past, and he must believe he can continue to suppress these stories and live the lie that he has lived all of these years.
In my job I have worked with quite a few sexual predators in the past and this is how they operate. They blame the victim, they minimize the actual assault, and then they attempt to bully people into silence.
Bill Cosby's accusers deserve justice. And Bill Cosby should not be above that justice.
If Palin hadn't recently attached such infamy to the phrase, I wonder if Cosby's response would be, "don't you know who I am?"
ReplyDeleteThis story is as old as celebrity worship dates. Because we admire someone's talent, we too easily lull ourselves into a conclusion they're surely equally virtuous. It's not true today, it never has been, it never will be.
You've gotten further than I have.. I'm still at the denial stage, though I am the last person to discount women's claims out of hand. But, damn, it is Bill Cosby! 'Sort of like learning something horrible about your own family member. sigh....
ReplyDeleteDon't mistake who he played on TV with who he really is. I think that's where a lot of people are, esp white people. He was our bench mark on the good black person, the doctor, the family man, the wise joking dad. He isn't real. He was a part o a TV sitcom. The real Cosby is the guy who bullies reporters and underlings with his "power" and allegedly rapes women because of it too.
DeleteI don't know much about him, we didn't watch his show in my house but I do remember him from those jello commercials and that's about all I know about him until this came out. I guess he deserves to share his side of the story and if he is stonewalling I guess we should believe he is guilty, he sure is acting as if he is guilty.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if he's guilty, although I have my suspicions. what I do know is that given what I've heard, adn not heard, I wouldn't allow my daughter to be alone with him, nor would I allow myself to be alone with him.
DeleteInnocent until proven guilty only applies to the jury. Not even the judge (since the Judge's decision should be based on procedure, not substance). I can make judgments about people anytime I want - and no way would I let myself be alone iwth Cosby, let my children spend the night with Michael Jackson, or support my daughter dating OJ. Do I know the absolute truth. No. Can I make judgments about what I thnk happened to help inform my decisions about my safety. Absolutely.
DeleteA 'rush to judgment' has been proven wrong so many times! I'm not convinced at all that Cosby is guilty. Social media has made him appear guilty and it's sickening to watch. Remember, it could happen to you too!
DeleteNot convinced, Gryph. Yes, you did need to report on the allegations, but "have no reason to believe" the accusers are lying is an inappropriate test. Especially when most are 40 and more years in the past. I hope that none are true. I suspect that some may be. Sad. And I think that the damage to his legacy has already been done, whether justified or not. Still, innocent until proven guilty, NOT I have no reason to disbelieve.
ReplyDeleteIt hurts to learn one of your heroes has feet of clay (and in this particular case... MUD) and I'm sorry your memories will be forever tarnished by these revelations. I believe the accusations but I'm not holding my breath that Cosby will ever have to face the law over them. Unlike you (and I'm older than you), I've always found Cosby creepy and I've always avoided his attempts to entertain. I always sensed hostility and arrogance beneath his comic veneer. But he's worse than I ever could have imagined.
ReplyDeleteUnless there are any recent allegations, it is probably unlikely that Cosby will have to answer to any criminal complaints. His ultimate fate though, will likely be to live out his old age alone and bitter. Guessing since this has gone so public, the wifey will play stupid (think Sandusky) and soon will leave him, taking everything she can. His future income will be limited to over seas bookings, if he can even get that.
DeleteDitto to the "Coz" giving me the creepy vibe. Only watch his old movies...."Uptown Saturday Night" and such...didn't like the Cosby Show....too fake and goody goody for my taste....betcha Lisa Bonet has a story to tell about Coz.
DeleteMany of us loved Cosby's show and purchased his records, etc. He and his family on TV were very, very popular and now look at what social media is doing to bring him down. Don't believe a word of it - it's spread like wildfire and more and more women have piled on! Amazing!
Delete"betcha Lisa Bonet has a story to tell about Coz."
Delete-------------
Wasn't Lisa Bonet the actress that they fired or made her quit the show because she was in a movie that had a lot of nudity (black orchid or something). Cosby didn't want that "reputation" associated the family image of the Cosby Show.
I know how you feel! I grew up watching The Cosby Show & feel like my whole childhood was a sham.
ReplyDeleteI believe these women's stories, but wish they could have all spoken up years ago, so that there would have been less victims. But there is a good old boys club, I think it has a lot to do with powerful men in general (Hollywood,politics & business) They seem to protect themselves & each other. Women & young boys have no protection when they are in a vulnerable position. They can't speak up! (although I am sure it was far worse 20-40 years ago). I was hoping that Mr. Cosby would bury himself under a rug, not continue to make a fool of himself.
Your childhood was not a sham because of his actions unless you patterned your life after his comedy bits and that is quite unlikely. It's his life that was a sham.
DeleteWomen have been coming forward for many years but they were silenced by intimidation and/or cash settlements. He was a very powerful man back in the early days and he probably felt secure in the knowledge that the public wouldn't believe the claims by relative 'unknowns' due to his TV reputation.
"but wish they could have all spoken up years ago"
Delete------------------------------------
Apparently, some of them did, but they were not believed and/or were intimidated out of pursuing it.
speaking up years ago may not have resulted in fewer victims. Look what happened to MJ's accuser. to MOnica Lewinsky. they were trashed. IT's a lot to ask someone to take on a public figure "for the good of others." Some can do it, some can't. And some of it depends on teh victim's inner resources, and some of it depends on the power of hte celebrity.
DeleteThank you 12:54, I was just being a little dramatic.
DeleteAfter hearing about Woody Allen & Polanski for years, I would have never guessed Cosby was in their rank. I wonder who else is in the club!
12:27
One wonders if this will be enough for Camille to finally dump him.
ReplyDeleteWell certainly his wife should be pretty upset about this. Why hasn't Camille made a statement?
DeleteLike Dottie Sandusky, I believe that she has known for a long time and is complicit in her silence.
DeleteJJ
I wouldn't respond to the social media on this matter either. It's amazing how he's been found guilty by many who wouldn't know the truth if they fell over it!
DeleteI just googled Lou Ferrigno and he was they guy who played Hulk back on a TV show. There was a TV show about the Hulk? His wiki says he is deaf and was a bodybuilder back when Arnold Swarzenegger was a bodybuilder. Interesting guy!
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Ferrigno
Whaaa? Really you don't know any of this?
DeleteI must be getting old......
Look at his face and imagine it green, there is the hulk a lot of us grew up watching. Bill Bixby as Banner, don't make him angry...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800080/
DeleteThis is the Hulk that most of us know, Ed Norton, Fight Club guy.
I'm sorry, but I don't believe these women. I think social media is the culprit and women upon women are piling on for nothing more than a few minutes of national fame.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine being Bill Cosby right now w/all the corporations piling on....think of all the money they've made off of him in the past.
I call FOUL! I wish Mr. Cosby and his family members well through all of this.
LMAO!! You sound just like the Palin fans "it was the media done smeared Our Sarah!
Deletethen why has he denied ONE allegation, and none of the othesr?
Delete1:36 PM Your comparing this Cosby situation to Sarah Palin makes us laugh out loud! There is none! Plus, how do you know how 12:47 PM feels about Sarah Palin? There is another world out there besides Sarah Palin for crying out loud!
Delete1:59 PM Because they don't deserve a response. I wouldn't respond to any of them either! Social media is trying to crucify the guy. The women just want media attention!
DeleteSo you think 30 woman have just lied? Why? Even those who are famous on their own and used their names to accuse him? So will Bill be suing Janice Dickinson for libel then? I think you need to tke your head out of the sand friend,
DeleteThe media that is atempting to support him refuses to mention the cash settlements he made to some of the earliest victims. If there was no crime of rape or coercion, then why pay them off ????? If more people were aware of the early settlements they wouldn't be so quick to think that someone is trying to ruin the 'Cosby' image.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot wrong with this whole thing. I too have a hard time with the allegations, but I also wonder why people need to make more out of some than what they are. For instance, Ferrigno says he "forcibly " kissed her. In another article, it was described as he pulled her to him and kissed her. She did not like it and left the house. Whatever that was, it was not rape.
ReplyDeleteThe other woman claims that Cosby gave her 2 pills which she took. He did not slip the pills to her. That's not rohypnal, not a rufie. She willingly took drugs that affected her sensibilities. And, she then continued the sexual relationship for years.
Yes, I understand that there was a power dynamic, and I understand that these women probably felt unable to stand up to a famous older man, especially in that decade. But that does not make these things rape.
The other allegations have more substance, where the drug was allegedly slipped into a drink or something. Still, as much as we have a problem with rape culture in this country, I don't think we are helping ourselves by calling every unwanted sexual advance rape. When the woman enters into the power relationship, even though not for the purpose of sex, she is already at a disadvantage. If these allegations are true, Cosby took advantage of that power dynamic, and he acted in the entitled way that men historically acted. He provided the social lubricant that was apparently common during the time, and then overlooked the issue of consent. Not uncommon for that time. Not an excuse, simply an observation. But that's why we have to fight to explain the concept of consent today. At any rate, it certainly seems like Cosby was an asshole but I don't see yet the evidence to call him a serial rapist.
You described some alleged incidents as "not rape." They might not have been rapes, but they most certainly were sexual assaults.
DeleteOh, IDK, call me old fashioned but any man that hands me a few pills and tells me to take them, that's the last thing he or I do. He's walking home with his testicles in a wheelbarrow. She was on ABC crying her eyes out today with the "He gave me two pills, so I took them while drinking in a bar----- the next thing I know he (GASP) raped me..... so this kept happening for YEARS. W H A T ? ? ? ? ? ?
DeleteReminds me of another fable I heard that involved two teens, in the woods, in a tent w/ winecoolers involved.
REAL rape is an act of violence and power, rarely does the victim stay friends with/ bumps boots with/ calls on the phone for years. I hope Camille wakes up and has someone put out the trash.
When I first heard it, I was willing to give Bill the benefit of the doubt, but this AP interview is exactly what changed my mind.
I had his record "To Russell, My Brother, with Whom I've Slept" and I played that sucker till the grooves were gone. THE funniest comedy from Cosby EVER, His other stuff was crap.
"REAL rape is an act of violence and power,"
DeletePlease take your misogynist, rape apologies and stick them where the sun doesn't shine . Thanks
As a civil attorney, I can tell you that the fact that the suit was settled, for cash or for whatever, doesn't mean anything. Whether you are right or wrong, a settlement is always a more secure and final outcome that trusting a jury, and then fighting years worth of appeals.
ReplyDeleteHey! What's in this Puddin' Pop?
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I joked about this last night because we only know of him from those jello pudding pop commercials. So funny, old guy raper doing commercials for kids? What's his deal other than the Cosby show? Why is he even famous?
DeleteNow the main stream will understand why the poor black community did not want Bill Cosby "blacksplaining" how to raise their kids.
ReplyDeleteThese rumors and many other tales have been around for decades. He was never a nice person behind the scenes.
He should have taken the money and moved overseas in 2005. Europe is more understanding of that kind of past.
Now the chickens have come home to roost. There are a lot of other victims that will likely come forward. As Eddie Murphy said, Bill have a coke and a smile and STFU.
Totally agree. Camille has known this and probably stop caring about the old goat a long time ago.
Delete"I have been purposefully avoiding this topic because, well because I fucking love Bill Cosby."
Delete-------------
And THAT is how it can get so far. I will not convict in my mind till the evidence is in, and that may be very hard to get, but to cover for him because he is The Cos is despicable.
The media at it's best yet again. Fake pregnancy cover up anyone?
You don't know what the Black Community want... Most of us agreed with Bill... The only people got upset are the old Civil Right leaders who see things different from the younger leaders.
DeleteNever was a fan of Bill Cosby. Never did understand why people thought he was really the benevolent dad he portrayed. It was all an act. Women have been making these allegations for years, but because everyone thought he was the same guy he portrayed on his tv shows, it was swept under the rug. Evidently, this has been an open secret in some circles for decades. Who knows, maybe someday when Sarah Palin is in her 70's, babygate will finally break.
ReplyDeleteOf course it was an act. They guy is an ACTOR. I can never understand the cult of celebrity- how can anyone confuse the actor and the role? That goes for US Presidents, also, too.
DeleteI agree with you, don't know why all of these people were such fans. He always came across as icky to me. (Of course, I've been sexually abused as a child, so maybe I was picking up on his creepiness).
DeleteLots of Cosby fans in denial. Kind of like Palin's eh?
ReplyDeleteIn my family we listened to Richard Pryor albumins all day long.....Bill Cosby tried to tell Pryor to stop cussing and using the N word...I think Cosby was jealous of Pryor. We did watch the Fat Albert cartoons on Saturday mornings....that's about all of Cosby I could stand. His comedy...Meh.
ReplyDeleteAlways like Cosby, think his comedy is great.
ReplyDeleteBut I have no problem calling this what it is. Most people have a problem with this because their psyche points a finger at them saying "How could you like this person? What does it say about you?" so it's all about cognitive dissonance.
I remember hearing these stories years ago and I thought it had all been swept away at the time.
This argument I read about how "why now, do these women come forward?"
Well, I'm a man and I understand why perfectly. Truth is, we all understand. Battered wives, children who have been abused by relatives or clergy often take decades to reveal their abusers. This is no different.
I still like Cosby's comedy but the man himself seems to have serious problems on his hands.
I think they're coming forward now because Cosby can no longer defend himself. No longer mentally capable.
DeleteI was a fan (Fat Albert in the early 1970s). Not so when I got to college. Changing tastes. I don't know what to think. I think I'm in denial. Yet open to that it could have happened. I need more information.
ReplyDeleteWow, so there was a cartoon that made fun of a fat black kid? Too funny, certainly we've been not allowed to do that in the last 30 years. Found a YouTube and holy crap, it seemed like a joke on the inner city and a bunch of disenfranchised black kids one of whom was blind and one was fat and they were all poor and making fun of it?
DeleteSeriously, I'm getting old.... folks don't know Fat Albert or Lou Ferrigno....
DeleteWell all I can say is growing up in the 70's was awesome.... It was probably the last decade of acceptable decadent non-politically correct behavior, rotary phones, and corduroys. The 80's I can't really even explain (although the social prevalence of cocaine might explain a lot of it).
2:17 Don't forget pink and chartreuse and mullets.
DeleteAnd polyester pastel plaids. For men's dress suits (also called leisure suits for some reason).
DeleteFor those of you who missed the '70s, think Brady Bunch on steroids.
It is ironic isn't it? The guy who didn't like dirty comedy and swearing!
ReplyDeleteAdd George Carlin and Bill Hicks to that list for me.
Pryor!... how could I forget Pryor?! He is on that list for me too.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand why women don't come forward. Think of Anita Hill (who was pushed forward), Monica Lewinsky, MJs victims. How in the world did OJ get off? His friends believed he did it!
ReplyDeleteThis kills me too because I loved listening to his comedy when I was growing up, but if he did wrong, then he jolly well ought to face the consequences.
ReplyDeleteM from MD
Too many women have come forward not to believe these accusations. But it appears that the Statute of Limitations has run it course and there will be no charges filed. That boat has sailed.
ReplyDeleteBut Cosby has lost his new TV show, a Netflix special and his all his stand-up gigs have been cancelled.
This man makes Tiger Woods look like a choir boy. Everyone remembers when Tiger's liaisons all came out of the woodwork as is now happening with Cosby. But Tiger did not force himself on anyone. But it sure looks like Cosby forced himself on these ladies after plying them with drugs and/or alcohol.
Karma has finally caught up to Cosby and the truth is now revealed. Are you paying attention Sarah? Karma is looking for you girlfriend. Soon everything you have tried to keep secret will be revealed.
Cosby would never have been able to do the new TV show or specials anyway.
DeleteHave you seen any interviews lately?
He had dementia or Alzheimer's or something. But he makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
It also makes him unable to respond to these allegations. I doubt he remembers anything.
He's got a gig representing Temple University and they're in meetings now trying to find a "friendly" way to say "Take all your sweaters and shove them where the sun don't shine", but he's probably going to get paid till his contract's up.
DeleteUnfortunately, the accuser getting the most attention has a history of desperate attention-seeking behavior (THE Bruce Dickenson er... Janice). Hopefully that does not affect the believability of the other accusers.
ReplyDeleteI think many of the women that jumped on this as to being raped are nothing more than attention getters and feeding off the initial story. Social media can be horrible and I sure as hell hope 'they' never go after any of us! It would not be fun and difficult to fight!
DeleteI completely agree. Janice Dickinson is a complete whack job and attention seeker and I hope her allegations don't taint the others.
DeleteThat said, what disturbed me about this AP interview was the attitude of the press in assuring Cosby that the portion questioning him about the rapes would not be made public. It sounded as though he and his publicist had prior assurances as well. Sounds like someone else we know and the pass from the press on her fabrications.
Sheesh
I'm not sure if it's the same woman they had on ABC tonight, and I hate to say this about an alleged victim of a crime, but she came across like a ditz. They were at a bar, he hands her two pills and tells her to take them. She downs her alcoholic drink then takes the pills. Next thing she remembers, she's raped. And they've stayed in touch over the years, had sex, the whole nine yards... they interview Cosby and he shuts down and stonewalls while Camille, his wife, sat demurely and silently next to him. They asked the woman why she waited all these years to come forward, why she didn't call 911. The answer? "It's, It's BILL COSBY!!! And I saw all the other accusers come out with their stories and figured "Why not me, why not now?" She's not even a good actress.
Deletejanice dickinson wrote about cosby (and a lot of what she wanted to write was not allowed in her book by her publisher) 2 years before the first public allegations against him and the resulting settlement. i find her completely believable on this subject.
Deletealso only 8% of rape allegations prove to be false.
i'm from philly. these rumors were around for a very long time. i heard them in the 80s.
plus there is the out of wedlock child. camille has gone along for all these years.
i believe bill cosby is a serial rapist and possibly a pedophile (at least one victim was 17).
Anon at 9:43. Thanks for that info on Janice. She's still a whack job but your info does make her allegations stand up to the scrutiny. I was completely unaware of this side of Cosby until this past week.
DeleteSheesh
I feel the same way as you, Gryphen. I loved Bill Cosby growing up and absolutely hated to hear this...but the growing chorus has changed my mind. I won't be buying anything Cosby related, nor watching anything left of his on tv. What a horrible thing to find out about a childhood hero
ReplyDeleteSlightly OT: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/palin-identifies-the-key-threat-americas-future-americans
ReplyDeleteyes, Palin has seen the enemy and the enemy is we (cue "Tubular Bells") Whatcha servin for Thanksgiving? Moose Tacos? Stuffed Vulture? And what's your favorite Alaskan after dinner game? Eskimo Thong Dress Sling Shot?
DeleteAnita 4:53 I was just thinking about the Palin Turkey Slaughter the other day.
DeleteCan't believe it's been a full year since we all last giggled at that.
I still feel bad for the guy in the background and for the turkey farm that went out of business from The Palin Curse.
I just Googled "Palin turkey video" and got TONS of pages, including last year's Gawker and HuffPo.
NOBODY will be allowed to forget the event, ever.
Right about 3:00 there are arrows identifying "The still clueless governor" and the "former live turkey."
This is now part of my Thanksgiving tradition. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
MSNBC video on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5qR0aff0Kk
The Coz? Really!? The only disillusionment I can conceive to equal this would be finding out that Snoopy is a leg humper who shits on the furniture.
ReplyDeleteNo. Don't tell me, OK?
It is never a good thing to find out that someone you thought of as a good person turns out to be something totally opposite of that. Unfortunately in real life that frequently is the case, but more especially so in Hollywood. Sex has long been the currency for getting ahead in tinsel town and it has been equally applied to both sexes, in terms of same sex or opposite sex.
ReplyDeleteAll the stories, the rumors, the gossip about this or that star usually has some basis in fact. No one has any firm figures in terms of percentages, but I would not be at all surprised to learn that those aspiring stars of both genders who have NOT turned a trick or two to get ahead would be somewhere below 10%.
So my bottom line about Bill Cosby is that I believe the women -- all of them -- because in that world it is more the norm.
Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes Cosby should have paid heed to the old saying -- "Do Unto Others...". If he had done so he would not find himself all caught up as the centerpiece in this scandal. Karma is a bitch.
I won't pass judgement on whether he did or didn't.
ReplyDeleteWhat disturbs me most is the timing.
Yes. He's 77 and it was quite a while ago. But that's not it.
I've seen Bill Cosby on a few interviews lately, the most recent being The Colbert Report.
I think he has dementia. Colbert had fear in his eyes trying to keep Bill on track. They recorded a LOT of interview, just so they could edit enough to show on TV that made even a semblance of sense.
I doubt Bill Cosby remembers these women or what he did or didn't do. He fucking can't defend himself. I think he's talking through his lawyers because he just can't respond. Camille is probably preparing the statements for the lawyers and handling all that.
It's either dementia or Alzheimer's. Whatever it is, that Bill Cosby is gone. And there will be no specials or shows in development for that reason alone. They can say it's because of the rape charges and maybe it is. But if it wasn't that, it would be something else because Bill Cosby simply doesn't have the mental capacity to create funny any more.
He's old. Id say a number of things are whack with him naturally.
DeleteI feel for his industry friends who have to confront these things. It doesn't erase their friendship. I hope he's improving his life and learning
If he settled the 2005 civil case, then there was likely a gag order in it that said a couple things. One provision - a provision that is in almost all settlement agreements - is that he can't discuss the terms of the settlement. often, they're not allowed to discuss the very fact that there IS a settlement.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in this kind of case, it's possible that the agreement includes a provision that says he can't say he did not commit the act!
Settlement can make either side in a case like this look bad - whether it's because he agreed to a settlement or because she agreed not to let it go to trial. You don't want want him to be able to run around saying, "That was a crap allegation" the rest of his life - which reflects badly on her.
So you include in the settlement that he can't publicly say it was bunk.
This is not to say he didn't do it, but rather, that the interview looks to me a lot like a guy who signed a settlement agreement with an awkward gag order.
Here's something I always wonder when we learn about someone who "was someone great" in the public's eyes.
ReplyDeleteI'd really appreciate your thoughtful answers as I am not sure how to react or deal with things going forward when these things come up.
Take Michael Jackson, Cosby and others. Do we throw out all their records?
Do we say, "I used to like his music (or comedy) but now that I suspect he's a pervert I don't like it?"
Does this horrible thing mean we should forget we enjoyed what they offered us in the past?
Do we forever hit the button for a new station when MJ's song comes on? (I wondered this recently when "Thriller" came on at Halloween.)
What if we found out Mozart was a child abuser? Do we discount his work?
I heard one guy on radio once say he loved MJ's work "before he got weird" and doesn't listen to anything after the "Bad" album because he got publicly weird after that. (Ironic name for a CD given the circumstances, eh?)
I'm wondering what you all think since I appreciate all the things you all say.
I thought Cosby was famous for I Spy. The kids watched The Cosby Show, I can't say I paid much attention, except it was a family show and they would laugh. The last few years I thought he was getting old and grumpy, not in a good way. This is a big disaster. What a shame when anyone schmoozes or buys their way out of such serious behaviors.
ReplyDeleteI never wanted to hear this either, I grew up watching Bill Cosby shows and enjoyed them so much as a young girl. But this is literally too much evidence by so many woman coming forward that he is a sexual predator. What a damn shame that he fooled so many people and his fans. I'm very alarmed that his wife is standing by his side right now. I guess its all about his money because this fucker is going down, and he knows it. He's an old predator now and too old to prey on women, all he has left is to deny it. This interview says it all. I just can't believe his wife is standing by his side, holding his hand and acting like a dumb fuck. Apparently she's got his fortune and she's playing along. I think we are up to around 15 women finally coming forward now from 40 years ago. Bill Cosby would not get away with it today!
ReplyDeleteA wife knows her husband in ways no one else can.
DeleteDont judge. Just let people live their lives and hope they're constantly improving.
oh and fuck you media for dragging innocents into the cosby story
Although I am horrified about the allegations against Bill Cosby I am equally baffled that anyone ever thought this second rate monologist was a great comic. Pryor could kick his ass left handed, and don't give me any shit about Cosby came first, I don't wanna hear it. White America didn't find him threatening, they saw him as cute and their pal from across town. I was only a kid when he started but I saw his shuck for what it was even then. He just wasn't that fuckin funny, and that's all there is to it.
ReplyDeleteWell where's the old white man that does the same thing? Crickets media, crickets. Let me see, toad for one, the pimp. Not discounting the women's allegations but, come on. I don't see any women coming forth about WM.
ReplyDeleteToad, for one, is not of the same stature, celebrity-wise, as is Bill Cosby. Neither is pimping, for that matter.
DeleteThe WM, as you call them, just remain to be caught. Give it time; if it should come out, it will. It definitely is not a racist thing as you implied.
Makes you think of all the people Corey Feldman referred to who abused boys back in the day. RIP Corey Haim
ReplyDeleteThe industry invites it sadly
Casting couches NEED to become a thing of the past.
I believe most people are capable of personal reform. Ted Bundy and those types are the exception, though I stll have empathy for them and wonder what happened.
But most of us are fully capable of being better and improving ourselves.
I know Sarah isn't an abuser and I know she isn't in the group that Cosbys in, but remember, she too should be allowed to evolve. No one stops changing.
Also evolution is coming to terms with your deeds. The bad ones you admit and deal with. No redemption for the scoundrels like Palin or Cosby. Palin may be more like a voyeur. And not selling people to creepy men or women, just very involved, profiting and highly placed in the organization. Palin is complicit and the same as the jerks she covers. Her own children are her possession and she can do what she wants with them. That is how she can get by with the blatant abuse she shows that she does to Trig. Bristol makes films on the family abuse, you can see how it is passed to future generations.
DeleteMakes you wonder who Kathy Griffin was tlaking about when she named a person by first name and last initial after the Stephen collins stuff came out.
ReplyDeleteStarlets specfically have been abused in hollywood.
http://hellobeautiful.com/2014/11/20/nikki-giovanni-bill-cosby-comments/.VG59-zDC6Aw.facebook
ReplyDeleteGreat Bill Cosby takedown from 2007 -- some knew the truth earlier and was speaking of it. What she is talking about is the reason that I despised the man for many years.
Sad, shameful and puzzeling. Cosby is a weathly man. Why did he stoop to drugging kids, when he could have afforded a mistress?
ReplyDeleteConsider Jerry Sandusky. Both of these men when to a great deal of effort to appear as though they were moral "pillars of the community". The better to disguise their predatory behavior.
Now when I meet a new guy who is quick to point out what a credit to the community and how "churchy" he is, I think "What could this guy be hiding?' Being able to thumb a bible and avoiding swearing, drinking and smoking is NO guarantee of being an honorable character.
Bill Cosby tries to cheat the whole world. Why do we give him a special status?, because he is 77, or he is a celebrity, or he is rich. America, please respect these (so called) victims too -Please. It seems like, Bill Cosby is more respected than these accusing women.
ReplyDelete