It appeared to be three against one during Thursday morning’s “The View” as the co-hosts weighed in once again on the rape allegations surrounding Bill Cosby. While the majority of the panel was cautious of rushing to judgment, Rosie O’Donnell seemed to have her mind made up over whether or not Cosby’s accusers are telling the truth.
“There are lots of allegations, starting in 1969,” O’Donnell said. “There are many, many, many and it’s very hard, I think, for any of us to discuss Bill Cosby in this context.”
Rosie Perez questioned the rationale behind networks who have already dropped their projects with Cosby, saying: “NBC and Netflix and TVLand are responding to the mob who are very upset with the allegations. I think that’s a big, big statement.”
“Do you think that that’s a wrong statement of the corporations?” O’Donnell asked.
“I can’t comment on how a corporation should do business, it’s their right to do business accordingly, but I’m just saying in this world of the Internet and social media, I think it’s pretty fascinating that public opinion can turn the tide.”
Perez continued: “Online does have power today, whether we like it or not. That’s my only point. It seems as if you’re getting upset at me. I’m not saying the man is guilty, I’m not saying the man isn’t guilty. I’m saying that that’s not my business.”
“As a woman, it’s not your business?” O’Donnell said to Perez.
“It’s unknowable, Rosie,” co-host Nicolle Wallace interjected. “I think everyone who has been a victim is brave to come out and I think the only thing more horrific than the act is to go to the hospital or go to the police. But none of us can know.”
As tensions continued to escalate, O’Donnell looked across the table to Whoopi Goldberg and asked: “What, are you mad?”
“I was just moving my chair, Rosie,” Goldberg said, while putting up her hands and scoffing.
“It’s not a rare thing,” Goldberg said. “We watched it happen with Tiger Woods, we watched it happen with a lot of people. It always is the same – something gets started, it gets bigger and bigger and bigger, then you get whatever the truth shakes out to be and that’s the truth.”
Goldberg also likened Cosby’s current controversy to the media frenzy that came after Paula Deen admitted to using the “n-word.”
“I just think there’s a big difference between a rape allegation and Paula using the N-word,” O’Donnell said.
“No, there’s not,” said Goldberg. “Because until you know if it’s true, it’s an allegation. That’s what it is.”
Goldberg went on to say: “It seems now you are guilty, no matter what.”
“It’s harder when 13 women accuse you,” O’Donnell said.
“My point is, people jump on the bandwagon,” Goldberg said. “I know you have very different feelings about it, which you are entitled to. But for me, I’m going to wait.”
“What’s the motivation of the women?” O’Donnell asked. “There’s no financial gain. They woke up and said, ‘I want to ruin Bill Cosby today?’”
“Maybe,” said Goldberg.
Watch the video from “The View” here.