‘Queen Latifah Show’ Shoots Down Report It Canceled Bill Cosby Interview After Rape Allegations Resurfaced

Syndicated daytime talker accused of having “cold feet” surrounding actor and comedian’s appearance

queen latifah show bill cosby rape
Getty Images, Sony TV

“The Queen Latifah Show” is refuting a report that it canceled an interview with comedian and actor Bill Cosby.

“Mr. Cosby’s scheduled appearance on ‘The Queen Latifah Show’ was postponed at his request and was in no way related to any of our recent or upcoming scheduled guests,” a spokesperson told TheWrap.

See photos: 26 Daytime Talk Show Personalities Ranked by Popularity

TMZ reported on Thursday that the show canceled Cosby’s appearance after his history of being accused of raping 13 women was brought up by comedian Hannibal Buress during a stand-up performance last week.

Bill Cosby has the f–king smuggest old black man public persona that I hate,” Buress said. “‘Pull your pants up, black people. I was on TV in the ’80s. I can talk down to you, because I had a successful sitcom.’ Yeah, but you raped women, Bill Cosby. So, brings you down a couple notches. I don’t curse on stage. But yeah, you’re a rapist.”

See video: ‘Angry Birds’ Star Hannibal Buress Rips Bill Cosby: ‘You Are a Rapist’

Buress’ statement stems from a 2006 case with Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee who said Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in his Philadelphia-area mansion in 2004. Constand’s lawyers found 13 witnesses with similar claims of sexual assault, drugging and or abuse by the TV star, though the statute of limitations on all their charges had expired. Cosby ended up settling with Constand under undisclosed terms.

Also readHalloween Viewing Guide: 19 of the Week’s Most Hauntingly Awesome Offerings

Cosby has never been charged for sexual assault. Representatives for Cosby have yet to respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Read Fall TV’s Renewals and Cancellations: TheWrap’s Early Predictions

The CW, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox/Ada Guerin, TheWrap
The CW, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox/Ada Guerin, TheWrap

Comments