Phylicia Rashad says she was misquoted in her defense of Bill Cosby that has sparked backlash. The former “Cosby Show” star appeared on ABC World News Tonight on Wednesday to dismiss the dismissive quote, “Forget those women,” attributed to her in an online report written by “Showbiz 411’s” Roger Friedman.
Click the media player to hear Rashad in her own words:
The quote was repeated multiple times in both social media and traditional media causing a firestorm. It was repeated again and criticized by celebrity attorney Gloria Allred at a Wednesday press conference.
Click the media player to hear Allred on Rashad’s quote: At that press conference, Allred went on to introduce three more women who have joined the growing list saying they were drugged and assaulted by Cosby.
Rashad, in her interview with “World News Tonight,” said she couldn’t even speak to the allegations, nor did she want to. The legendary stage, television and film actress described the man who played her husband on television for eight seasons as a “genius.” Friedman’s report attributes a conspiracy to keep Cosby off of television for some unknown reason to Rashad, a conspiracy that his report said she didn’t know who was behind nor why and that the media had essentially effectively done the work. Rashad went on to tell ABC that Cosby has been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion.
Click the media player to hear Rashad in her own words:
The former ‘Mrs. Huxtable’s’ comments come as Cosby begins a new round of performance dates in Canada this week. She is the second actress with ties to The Cosby Show to speak up recently about the growing scandal–the other one being Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played the youngest daughter ‘Rudy Huxtable’. Cosby’s lawyers continue to deny the allegations against him as more women come forward with similar stories of assault.
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