Report by Victory Oyeleke, Saturday Tribune
Bill Cosby is undoubtedly a man of many talents and held majority of us spellbound with his witty remarks in The Cosby Show which was aired in Nigeria thanks to NTA and Cadbury sponsored breakfast show. Saturday morning chores were done at lightning speed so as to have uninterrupted TV time. Kind sweater-wearing Dr Huxtable's portrayal of the authoritative father who is warm, affectionate and reasonably strict was more appealing than the all-round strict ones we grew up with. So, it is only natural for us to be heartbroken by Bill Cosby rape allegations.
In only a matter of weeks he has gone from a national treasure to national disgrace following accusations of rape.
The 77 year-old married father of five who was born into poverty and grew up in a housing project in Philadelphia served in the Navy before starting his career as a stand-up comedian in clubs across the US.
His stand-up paved way for him into television and he became the first black actor to star in a drama series. Bill Cosby’s work both on and off screen endeared him to millions and earned him a royalty status in Hollywood
However, as more and more women come forward with tales that they were drugged and raped by him decades ago, his reputation and status are now in tatters. Almost everyone is severing ties with the once sought-after veteran actor who could do no wrong.
Several of his stand-up shows have been called off including a talk show with David Latterman and a Netflix thanksgiving stand-up special. The Navy has also revoked his honorary title citing “conflict with the Navy’s core values of honour, courage and commitment” as cause. The comedian who spent four years in the Navy was given the title of honorary Chief Petty Officer in 2011.
Cosby is not just coming under fire for rape allegations. He has been under a cloud of suspicion since 2005 when Andrea Constand brought a civil lawsuit against him which he quietly settled under undisclosed terms in 2006.
His present nightmare was orchestrated by fellow comedian Hannibal Buress who called him a “rapist” during a stand-up performance in Philadelphia and it snowballed from there.
First came Arizona artist Barbara Bowman alleging Cosby attacked her in 1985 when she was just 17. Then Joan Tarshis also claims she was sexually attacked twice by him when she was 19 while working with him at universal studios. Soon came supermodel Janice Dickinson with more shocking details of the ordeal she suffered in the hands of Cosby. According to her, after a meal with Cosby at the Tahoe to discuss a Cosby show job, he drugged her by slipping a pill into her drink after which he got on top of her and had his way with her.
Accusers are coming from the woodwork to tell their tale including Judy Huth who has now sued the entertainer, claiming he molested her at the Playboy mansion when she was 15. She insists he forced her to carry out a sexual act against her will adding that, the incident caused “psychological damage and mental anguish.” However, Cosby lawyers have branded her an extortionist claiming she tried to extort him for a quarter-million dollars and that she attempted to sell her story to a tabloid a decade ago.
While this has been dammed in the court of public opinion, Cosby is not without supporters majority of whom are asking for more information and irrefutable proof of the attacks.
The allege victims stories are too similar to dismiss as mere lies. What do they hope to gain by conspiring against him? However why did none of them report the incident when it happened. Like Whoopi Goldberg pointed out in the View show; shouldn’t the victims have gone to the police or hospital to report and get a rape kit administered? None of them have a shred of evidence yet their stories are quite compelling.
If the allegations are true, their silence might be out of self-preservation as no one would have believe them which shows how the rich and powerful hide behind seemingly good works and status to carryout atrocities just like Jimmy Savile of the BBC who was an OBE awardee and knighted for his charity works only to be uncovered decades later as a serial rapist who molested and raped children under the disguise of charity.
But if these allegations are false then a man’s life has been destroyed as he might never recover from this nightmare. All the good he has done will be replaced by this single story- Bill Cosby the serial rapist who drugged his victims.
Credit: Saturday Tribune
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus