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ONCE ‘AMERICA’S TV dad’ — Bill Cosby is being steadily frozen out of the US entertainment establishment this week, amid continuing controversy over decades-old sexual abuse claims.
In the last few days, Netflix and NBC have both pulled out of new Cosby-related projects.
Another broadcaster — TV Land — has also scrapped all reruns of The Cosby Show.
Allegations of rape and sexual abuse made against the star by several women in recent weeks are tarnishing the public image of the actor, famous for his long TV career, especially his role in his self-titled sitcom in the 1980s and 1990s.
In the latest claim, TV celebrity and former model Janice Dickenson said she had been drugged and sexually assaulted by the comedian in 1982.
In the midst of all this, news wire Associated Press has released previously unseen footage of the star (above).
It’s taken from an interview Cosby was taking part in to promote a Smithsonian art exhibition and was recorded earlier this month, as the controversy was still bubbling-under.
“No, no, we don’t answer that,” the comedian tells the (slightly nervous-sounding) reporter.
“There’s no response,” he adds.
The reporter tries another angle, but again..
“There is no comment about that.”
And I’ll tell you why. I think you were told. I don’t want to compromise your integrity but we don’t – I don’t – talk about it.
Things get incredibly tense once the cameras stop rolling, as the star tries to strong-arm the journalist — roping in off-screen publicists to help out..
TRANSCRIPT:
Cosby: Now can I get something from you?
Reporter: What’s that?
Cosby: That none of that will be shown?
Reporter: I… I can’t promise that, myself, but you didn’t say anything…
Cosby: I know I didn’t say anything, but I’m asking your integrity that since I didn’t want to say anything, but I did answer you, in terms of ‘I don’t want to say anything’ — of what value will it have?
Reporter: I don’t think it will have…
Cosby: (Speaking to publicist) Mam? What’d you say?
AP Reporter: Sorry?
Cosby: What did you say?
Publicist: I don’t think it has any value either.
Cosby: And I would appreciate it if it was scuttled.
Reporter: I hear you. I will tell that to my editors and I think that they will understand…
Cosby: I think if you want to consider yourself to be serious that it will not appear anywhere.
Reporter: Okay. I appreciate what you’ve asked.
Cosby: Thank you… And we thought, by the way, because it was AP, that it wouldn’t be necessary to go over that question with you.
Reporter: I know. And we haven’t written about this at all in the past two months, but they want, my bosses wanted me to ask.
Cosby: If you will just tell your boss the reason why we didn’t say that upfront was because we thought that AP had the integrity to not ask.
Publicist: One other point on that: One of the three major TV writers for the AP in Los Angeles called me up, and asked me [...] and I said we’re not addressing it. So she said fine, and she just closed it off.
Reporter: Okay
Cosby: (to publicist, again) And I think you need to get on the phone with his person immediately.
Publicist: I will, okay.
The interview was on the record. AP says it made no agreement to avoid questions about the allegations, or to withhold publishing any of his comments at any time.
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Well, if he doesn’t want to discuss it he MUST be guilty. Because an innocent person would certainly want to discuss all the people they didn’t rape
Not what I ment Silver, guilty or innocent a dialog needs to be had, it also doesn’t help when he previously joked about drugging and raping women
Bill Cosby – Spanish Fly: http://youtu.be/LAorIG6MZnc
I wasn’t replying to anything you said, but I disagree that “a dialogue needs to be had”. It doesn’t. He has a right not to respond.
Reread and realised that, my bad, it’s been a long long day, tiredness and all that! Still think he needs to open up about what happened it’s not doing him any favours keeping schtum, more and more victims are coming forward, it’ll get ten times worse if he refuses to talk! If he is guilty his victims at least deserve that much if not you’d think he’d at least try to defend himself, personally I think he’s running scared and so he should be with the amount of victims that are now comming forward!
You’re fallen into the argumentum ad numerum trap; if that many people are saying it, it must be true. It’s an especially big risk when celebrities are involved. All the details are out in the public. Anyone who’s the right age could put forward a realistic-sounding allegation at this stage with total anonymity, which they can choose to waive if they crave attention, or they can offer to go away with a reasonable pay-off. Look at the comments in this story alone. You can see people have made their minds up even though no evidence has been offered. The absence of evidence is easily explained away by the passage of time
Like victims, the accused should have anonymity until they are convicted
I didn’t hear any jokes about ” drugging & raping women”… That was a pretty tame routine by comparison to todays standards.
There’s also no requirement for him to enter into any dialogue. If his accusers are confident they should bring their complaints to the authorities and let them decide if there should be “dialogue” by means of cross examination in a court of law.
Dr.Huxtable and Mr. Hide
Never said that and never said innocent or guilty either way all I said was “dialogue” (auto corrected to dialog) needs to happen, if a crime was committed the passage of time also doesn’t make it untrue!
Pat he brought up the story in a 1991 interview with Larry King, this is what was said:
COSBY: There’s a thing about Spanish Fly. Do you know anything about Spanish Fly?
KING: When we were kids we used to-
COSBY: There you go. There you go. That’s all. I just wanted the recognition.
KING: Yes.
COSBY: Spanish Fly.
KING: We knew what it was.
COSBY: Spanish Fly was the thing that all boys from age 11 on up to death — We will still be searching for Spanish Fly.
KING: [laughs] That’s right.
COSBY: And what was the old- The old story was, if you took a little drop — It was on the head of a-
KING: Pin.
COSBY: -pin! And you put it in a drink-
KING: That’s right. Drop it in her Coca-cola — It don’t matter.
COSBY: It doesn’t make any difference. And the girl would drink it and-
KING: And she’s yours.
COSBY: -’Hello, America!’ And there’s a story in there about Spanish Fly. So I think that everybody — any guy picking it up will just have a ball reading about that.
I think it’s pretty clear from the audio and from this interview he was talking about drugging women, and yes fair enough it was a stand up piece (all’s fair in comedy) just think it’s weird that these allegations came to light after he joked about drugging women to have sex with them! Tame by today’s standards you say? I don’t think so!
On one hand I’m so glad that all these people are being “outed” but on the other hand sad that so many icons had feet of clay all this time.
Before I get red thumbed city here I know it’s not proven but come on for f€&ks sake
Considering i like many others liked cosby.. Snd taking into account his jokes about ‘spanish fly’ as documented.. Its v sad he’s obviously guilty as sin.. Watching ‘its alright in the 70′s’ on ch 4 the other night its quite clear that tgose times men felt it their right tobtake advantage of vulnerable people.. Its deeply saddening. Really a terrible indictment on men in general.. And little wonder that some wonen view us as sexual predators in waiting. Thankfully and hopefully those days are long gone.
*powerful men
“come on for f^cks sake”. Yes, that certainly meets the burden of proof
It’s like he’s trying to pretend it’s not happening…
Rumour has it, he has contacted Gerry Adams and asked him to sort him out with a job in the ROI
For the first time in 40 years Charles Manson is having a better week then have a pill bill.. how the tables have turned
Don’t show this so I don’t look bad and people can’t see how worried I look when u ask the question. The man is a joke
It’s no joke.
If you can remember the look on Gallaghers face when Kenny hit him with an allegation that cost him an election. It cost us a president that could have properly conveyed his disgust with the government.
Paul you are joking right, tell us you are joking.
Wow! You are way out there aren’t you? In the same orbit as Greg Campbell I reckon.
How long and how much does it take to prove you are innocent? (Hint: Ian Bailey)
Is every complaint of sexual assault a sexual assault? (Hint: Dominic Strauss Kahn)
Is every suspected rape a rape? (Hint: Ched Evans & huge chunk of Coronation Street Cast)
Is every allegation of rape prosecuted fairly? (Hint: Julian Assange)
Do we have a presumption of innocence until proven guilty?
I worry that sexual offence witch hunts are becoming the new McCarthyism. Having seen the way Cosby was ambushed at this interview I can say that from what I saw, he behaved reasonably, but I’m quite certain that perceptions will have ended his career. Are we seeing a situation where the criminal law is being used to blackmail high profile individuals?
Unsafe rape convictions do not do anything to make proof and prosecution of actual rape any easier. It’s true that delay creates doubt and also that justice delayed is justice denied. The real question here is why is Cosby being publicly questioned on a criminal matter for which he was not prosecuted.
Clearly manipulative.
I’ve read that a few people have said he was a difficult person to be around. Rapist or no, his attitude is unsettling.
He seems to have a menacing presence in that interview.. I once saw a Louis Thereaux documentary where he basically lived with Jimmy Saville for a week and Saville had that same menacing attitude.. Untouchable so to speak and also cold,detached and distant.
On a side note The Cosby show was about as funny as syphilis. Never understood the appeal and it was an instant reach for the remote when it came on the TV.
Totes awks
Alex Ferguson WILL be next. Screenshot this.
Why do ye say that?
Ma’am, not mam…
Oh oh!
Poor show by AP.
Paul hes obviously guilty.
I disagree. It’s obvious he was set up.
Call the cops. This man, he done a rap….
I see they’ve changed Jimmy Saville’s entire character for the U.S. adaptation. Is he at least executive producer?
I don’t want to defend Bill Cosby if he is guilty, but for the sake of my childhood and many many others, if there is still a slight chance this might be a sham, please speak now, defend yourself and show proof Bill Cosby. How many more childhood memories do we have to erase, when is this going to stop?
Why should he have to? This is trial by media. The only place he should defend himself is in court.
What possible proof could there be that something didn’t happen years ago? Let the accusers produce proof
Why not declare his innocence ….. if he is innocent ?
Probably because he’s not stupid enough to say anything about it without a lawyer present.
Guilty as charged !
How would he get wired up to a polygraph?
Hmmmm…
Cosby, whatever.
The truth here is the press in all its power and posed cotton woolish, rules our fukin planet!
Beware! !
I don’t know if Bill Cosby is innocent or guilty (although I think it is possible for sure), no one does except for the women who are accusing him of sexual assault.
But him keeping quiet when being questioned about it DOES NOT make him guilty.
It seems like an extension of his “good values guy/I’m not going to dignify it with a response” attitude which is wrapped up in his smugness, arrogance and basically plain old being an old man. it isn’t helping him but again it does not mean he IS guilty.
Ah he’s guilty as sin some of his jokes in his stand up clearly imply it and it’s been rumored for years along with 12 people coming forward, he had a powerful position jus like savile and he took advantage simple as…
have your say