Jay Leno, Malcolm-Jamal Warner Make Remarks on Bill Cosby Assault Allegations
Troubling allegations continue to surface about legendary comedian Bill Cosby, with numerous women coming forward to allege he drugged and sexually assaulted them throughout his career.
The charges have led to the cancellation of his new network television show, Netflix stand-up special, and television appearances, as well as a number of dates on his ongoing comedy tour.
Cosby has not been charged with any crime.
Here’s the latest on the allegations:
Thursday, January 22
Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno commented on the allegations against Cosby with remarks during a question-and-answer session at the NATPE television industry conference in Miami Wednesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter:
“At the very end of an interview at NATPE/Content First, Jay Leno was asked about whether he thought the Bill Cosby situation was sad. ‘I don’t know why it’s so hard to believe women,’ he responded. ‘You go to Saudi Arabia, you need two women to testify against a man. Here you need 25.’
While some outlets praised the former TV host and characterized his comments as critical of Cosby, others called him out for sidestepping the controversy to make a joke.
Wednesday, January 21
Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Cosby’s son Theo on The Cosby Show, said that the allegations against Cosby have been difficult to watch, “whether true or not.’’
Warner did not directly address the allegations against Cosby, but he noted that it’s been difficult to see his friend and mentor face them.
‘‘The Bill Cosby I know has been great to me and great for a lot of people,’’ said Warner. “What he’s done for comedy and television has been legendary and history-making. What he’s done for the black community and education has been invaluable. That’s the Bill Cosby I know.’’
Tuesday, January 13
Bill Cosby has canceled his scheduled show next month in Worcester, according to The Worcester Telegram and Gazette.
Bill Blumenreich, Cosby’s promoter, made the decision to cancel the February 6 performance at Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.
“President and Chief Executive Officer Troy Siebels said the theater had been rented out by promoter Bill Blumenreich for the stand-up performance by the legendary comedian and that the decision to cancel the show was entirely up to the promoter,’’ the Telegram reported.
Cosby’s scheduled Feb. 8 performance at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston is still on for now, Blumenreich told The Boston Globe.
“In Boston, plans for a local demonstration against Cosby are gathering steam on social media, further inflamed by his “joke’’ about the allegations in Ontario last week,’’ according to the Globe.
Friday, January 9
During a performance in London, Ontario, Cosby appeared to jokingly refer to the allegations surrounding him.
Cosby addressed a woman who was walking past the stage, asking her where she was going. When she replied that she was going for a drink in the lobby, Cosby replied: ‘‘You have to be careful about drinking around me.’’
The audience applauded after the remark, but a short time later, a heckler interrupted Cosby’s show by calling him a rapist. Police removed the heckler from the theater.
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Thursday, January 8
As three more women came forward to accuse Cosby of sexually assaulting them, his former co-star Phylicia Rashad attempted to clarify comments she made yesterday regarding the allegations against the comedian.
Rashad told ABC News that she was falsely quoted by Showbiz 411 as saying “Forget about these women’’ regarding Cosby’s accusers.
“I am a woman. I would never say such a thing. I would never think such a thing,’’ Rashad said.
Rather, she believes the accusations against Cosby are “not about the women,’’ but about “the obliteration of a legacy.’’
“There is the Constitution of the United States, which ensures innocence until proof of guilt and that has not happened,’’ she told ABC News. “But what has happened is declaration in the media of guilt, without proof. And a legacy is being destroyed because of it. It’s being obliterated.’’
Some have criticized her clarification as making her look worse.
The Showbiz 411 post, meanwhile, has been edited to no longer include the “Forget about these women’’ quote.
Wednesday, January 7
Cosby will took to the stage in Kitchener, Ontario, giving the embattled comic his first live show since November, according to an Associated Press report. Protesters heckled the comic from outside the venue, but the audience gave him a warm round of applause.
Earlier in the day, Cosby Show actress Phylicia Rashad made her first public comments today regarding the numerous sexual assault accusations against her former co-star.
“Forget these women,’’ Rashad, who played Cosby’s wife on the legendary sitcom, told Showbiz 411. “What you’re seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it’s orchestrated. I don’t know why or who’s doing it, but it’s the legacy. And it’s a legacy that is so important to the culture.’’
“Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV, and it’s worked,’’ she added. “All his contracts have been canceled.’’
At least two of Cosby’s accusers shot back at Rashad later today, according to TMZ.
“I looked at her as a woman with morals,’’ Angela Leslie told the website. “It’s sad that she’s speaking like this.’’
“What if something like this happened to her daughter? Shame on her and shame on Bill,’’ Sarita Butterfield said.
Monday, December 22
Katherine McKee, a former actress, Las Vegas showgirl and road-wife to the late Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. has come out with allegations of her own. McKee told New York Daily News that Cosby grabbed her and raped her in a hotel room in Detroit in the early 1970s. She was in town with Davis, who had developed a friendship with Cosby.
The incident is said to have happened in his hotel room. “He was a buddy. He knew I was Sammy’s girl,’’ said McKee, claiming that the comedian grabbed her as soon as she walked in his hotel room. “We were still standing at the door when he attacked me,’’ she told the Daily News. “It was so fast and so shocking and so unbelievable.’’
McKee says she never told Davis or anyone else. She decided to come forward, citing the changing attitudes toward rape and sexual abuse, and the media coverage that has forced her to confront her memories.
Tuesday, December 16
In a written statement to “Access Hollywood,’’ Cosby’s daughter, Evin, 38, defends her father:
“He is the FATHER you thought you knew. The Cosby Show was my today’s tv reality show. Thank you. That’s all I would like to say :).’’
Also, 24-year-old model and dancer Chloe Goins told The Daily Mail that Cosby drugged her when she attended a party at the Playboy Mansion with a friend in 2008. After being introduced to the comic by Hugh Hefner and feeling “sick to [her] stomach’’ from a drink that she remembers “being kind of strong,’’ he then led her to a bedroom, where she later woke up completely nude with the comedian pleasuring himself whilst licking and biting her toes.
Goins was adamant that she does not believe she was raped or molested, but felt “very violated and humiliated.’’
Los Angeles prosecutors have also confirmed that Cosby will not be charged with a crime in releation to claims that he molested a woman while she was a teen in 1974 at the Playboy Mansion.
Monday, December 15
Cosby’s wife, Camille, addresses the allegations publicly for the first time in a statement:
“He is the man you thought you knew,’’ the statement reads in part. “A different man has been portrayed in the media over the last two months. It is the portrait of a man I do not know. It is also a portrait painted by individuals and organizations whom many in the media have given a pass. There appears to be no vetting of my husband’s accusers before stories are published or aired. An accusation is published, and immediately goes viral.’’
Sunday, December 14
Spelman College’s Cosby Chair for the Humanities is suspended indefinitely, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Saturday, December 13
Cosby breaks his silence, speaking briefly to the New York Post, which describes him as sounding “upbeat.’’
“I only expect the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism and when you do that you have to go in with a neutral mind,’’ Cosby said.
Thursday, December 11
Model Beverly Johnson writes in Vanity Fair that Cosby drugged her in the mid-80s. She was at his home to read for a part on “The Cosby Show,’’ Johnson writes, when Cosby gave her a cappuccino. Then “my head became woozy, my speech became slurred, and the room began to spin nonstop. Johnson said she cursed at him until he removed her from his house and put her in a cab.
Wednesday, December 10
Tamara Green, who in 2005 accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting her, files a defamation lawsuit against the comedian in a Springfield federal court. Through his lawyer, Cosby denied Green’s accusations years ago, which “publicly branded Plaintiff Green a liar,’’ the lawsuit states.
Friday, December 6
On the same day as his Hollywood Walk of Fame star had to be cleaned after the word “rapist’’ was found written on it multiple times, former Playboy bunny Patricia “P.J.’’ Masten came forward to accuse Cosby of drugging and raping her and a dozen other Playboy bunnies in the late 1970s.
After a dinner date with the comic, she claims she woke up naked and bruised in a bed. She told CNN, “there were bruise marks all over me. I knew I was raped.’’
As for the other bunnies, Masten said “12 former bunnies that I know of are ashamed to come forward… married with families [and] don’t want to come forward. But they were also drugged and raped by Bill Cosby.’’
Monday, December 1
Today, Cosby announced in a statement that he would be resigning from Temple University’s Board of Trustees.
“I have always been proud of my association with Temple University. I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students. As a result, I have tendered my resignation from the Temple University Board of Trustees.’’
Cosby, who attended Temple in the 60’s, became a trustee in 1982. While other universities, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst, had disassociated from Cosby, Temple had yet to comment on the allegations. A Temple spokesman confirmed the campus has no buildings named for Cosby but does offer a $3,000 science scholarship named for Cosby and his wife.
University officials released a short statement following Cosby’s announcement, stating “the Board of Trustees accepts Dr. Cosby’s resignation from the board and thanks him for his service to the university.’’
Friday, November 28
Amid the week’s new allegations against Cosby and more people cutting ties with him, The New York Timesdug up a story from 2005 that reveals just how far the comedian went to prevent allegations of sexual assault from coming out. The Times found that roughly nine years ago, Cosby agreed to give The National Enquirer an exclusive interview in exchange for the tabloid spiking a story about Beth Ferrier, a former model who claimed Cosby drugged and molested her.
Ferrier’s accusations came while Cosby was facing other allegations of sexual assault from Andrea Constand, a staff member with Temple University’s basketball program. The comedian feared additional allegations could lend credence to what Constand was claiming.
The Times story cites a deposition from Federal District Court in Philadelphia that Cosby delivered while under oath. This is the key line of questioning:
“I would give them an exclusive story, my words,’’ Mr. Cosby said when asked in the deposition in the sexual assault case about his agreement with The Enquirer, according to the court documents. In return, The Enquirer “would not print the story of — print Beth’s story,’’ Mr. Cosby said.
“Did you ever think that if Beth Ferrier’s story was printed in The National Enquirer, that that would make the public believe that maybe Andrea was also telling the truth?’’ he was asked.
“Exactly,’’ he replied.
Wednesday, November 26
University of Massachusetts Amherst has cut ties with alumnus Bill Cosby, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday.
Cosby received a master’s and doctorate in education from the school in the 1970s, and he and his wife have donated several hundred thousands of dollars to the school. Cosby also sat as an honorary co-chairman of the school’s $300 million fund-raising campaign, The Globe reports.
Cosby agreed to resign from the campaign, UMass announced.
“He no longer has any affiliation with the campaign nor does he serve in any other capacity for the university,’’ UMass spokesman Edward Blaguszewskis said in a statement.
UMass Amherst isn’t the first school to balk at associations with Cosby. Berklee College of Music has removed his name from a scholarship offered by the school and High Point University in North Carolina has temporarily removed Cosby from its advisory board “until all information on this matter is available,’’ The Globe reports.
Tuesday, November 25
People is reporting that a 44-year-old woman who wishes to be referred to as Jena T. has come forward, claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Cosby in 1988. Jena is among a list of “Jane Does’’ who talked with attorneys in 2005 and 2006 “in support of another woman’s allegations of sexual assault by Cosby.’’ Per the magazine “a series of encounters with Cosby – who [Jena] claims pressured her into a sex act – left her with trust and self-esteem issues for decades.’’ The post goes on to say that Cosby promised Jena’s parents he would help the then 17-year-old when she moved from Washington, D.C. to New York City to pursue her modeling career.
Monday, November 24
The New York Daily News spoke to yet another Cosby accuser for a story published Monday. Former model Jewel Allison claims the comedian invited her to his home for a dinner party, but when she arrived, no one else was there. Allison says she and Cosby talked, he served her “a possibly drugged glass of wine,’’ and then he took her to another room where he placed her hand on his genitals before giving her “a hard kiss’’ and putting her in a cab home.
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut indefinitely postponed Cosby’s January 31 show. The casino didn’t give a reason for the postponement. According to the AP, there are still 29 dates on Cosby’s touring calendar, ending in May 2015.
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Sunday, November 23
The New York Daily News published an exclusive interview with an ex-NBC employee who said Cosby had him make payments to a number of different women. Frank Scotti, 90, claimed Cosby gave him “a satchel of money, all $100 bills’’ and asked the NBC employee to make money orders under his name to several women. Scotti said some of the payments were as much as $2,000 per month. “He was covering himself by having my name on it. It was a coverup. I realized it later,’’ Scotti told the paper.
The interview with Scotti also revealed an alleged arrangement between Cosby and a Manhattan modeling agency, whereby the agency’s owner would deliver models, some “as young as 16,’’ to Cosby’s dressing room. Scotti claimed Cosby would pick a model to be brought to his dressing room, dismiss the agency’s owner and the other models, and then ask Scotti to “stand outside the door and don’t let anyone in.’’
The Daily News published a second Cosby story on Sunday, citing a source at “The Late Show with David Letterman’’ who claimed Cosby had a bizarre pre-show ritual when he was scheduled to appear on the CBS program. The source said he would request “that the young girls, interns, and assistants, all had to gather around in the green room backstage and sit down and watch him eat curry. No one would say anything, and he would sit silently eating and make us watch and want us to watch.’’ Cosby was scheduled to go on Letterman this week but the appearance was canceled amid the ongoing scandal.
Saturday, November 22
The Washington Post published one of the most in-depth looks at the allegations against Cosby. The story included interviews with some of his accusers as well as details and a timeline of some the alleged attacks. The thorough report comes on the heels of Cosby telling Florida Today that “people should fact check.’’
Actress Michelle Hurd, perhaps best known for her role on “Law and Order: SVU,’’ wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday that while she was working on “The Cosby Show,’’ Cosby was “very inappropriate,’’ touched her all over her body as part of “weird acting exercises,’’ and tried to get her to shower at his home. On Saturday, Hurd’s husband, actor Garret Dillahunt, accusedan unnamed “journalist’’ of running Hurd’s story without her permission.
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