Earlier this week at a dinner celebrating the film Selma, Phylicia Rashad opened up for the first time about all the sexual abuse allegations that have been levelled against Bill Cosby, saying essentially that it’s a massive conspiracy that’s being orchestrated to ruin Bill Cosby’s legacy.
The quote that many of us in the media led with, however, was Rashad’s comment to the effect of, “Forget these women,” in reference to the alleged victims of Cosby’s sexual abuse. In an interview/damage control with ABC News, however, Rashad claims that she was misquoted, and that she’d never dismiss those women. “I am a woman. I would never say such a thing. I would never think such a thing,” she said. “This is not about the women. This is about something else. This is about the obliteration of a legacy.”
She continued to maintain this is not about the rape allegations (although, yes, it is), but about the destruction of Cosby’s legacy.
“We are really missing what is wrong here, which is, this is the United States of America. I know it’s changing, but it’s still the United States of America and there are tenets that we live by. There is the Constitution of the United States, which ensures innocence until proof of guilt and that has not happened.
“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.”
Those on the other side, of course, would say that there was never an opportunity for a trial because either Bill Cosby managed to silence the alleged victims or, as is often the case in rape, the alleged victims dared not come forward and accuse a man of Cosby’s stature.
Don’t expect Cosby to remain in hiding, however, notes Rashad. “Speaking to the character of the man that I know, this has not been easy. This has not been easy at all but he’s not a coward,” she said. “I don’t know what he will do in that way but I know that he won’t be hiding.”
It’s true. Cosby is not hiding. He’s still performing in Canada and, despite the allegations, protests, and Judd Apatow’s ire, he is still the recipient of standing ovations.
Via ABC News
