Hip-hop legend Chuck D joined the debate Sunday over embattled comedian Bill Cosby.
The Public Enemy co-founder tweeted his displeasure for the way Cosby’s legacy is being dismantled amid an avalanche of women accusing the comedian of drugging their drinks and sexual assault.
He compared Cosby’s situation to that of record producer Phil Spector, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 for the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson. Spector is serving a prison sentence of 19 years to life, but Chuck D complained that his music “still plays.”
“No way Im defending Cosby. But this wiping history out wit a swoop is akin to Nazi book burning.Context is everything. PhilSpector still plays,” the rapper tweeted.
No way Im defending Cosby.But this wiping history out wit a swoop is akin to Nazi book burning.Context is everything.PhilSpector still plays
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 12, 2015
I appreciate everyone's opinion on here. I detest silence in society. Stand up, sht. Be a adult & fkn sPEak/type your minds don't be a robot
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 12, 2015
The artist and activist followed it up with a string of tweets — over several hours — including: “I appreciate everyone’s opinion on here. I detest silence in society. Stand up, sht. Be a adult & fkn sPEak/type your minds don’t be a robot.”
His comments may have been sparked by a story that the New York Post published Sunday morning claiming Cosby’s wife, Camille, believes the comedian’s accusers consented to taking drugs and having sex with him.
“Camille still doesn’t believe that Bill provided drugs and had sex with women without their consent,” the Post quoted an anonymous source employed by the Cosby family as saying. “She’s well aware of his cheating, but she doesn’t believe that her husband is a rapist.”
Or perhaps Chuck D was addressing Cosby’s admission in a 2005 deposition that was unsealed last week, in which the comedian said he obtained Quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with.
Whatever the reason for his comments, Twitter users quickly reacted, making him a trending topic. While some agreed with his assessments, many others took him to task.
Below is a sampling of responses as compiled by TheWrap.
Chuck D going to bat for Cosby making my head hurt.
— bran (@sixteenswitches) July 12, 2015
@MrChuckD You do understand he admitted to drugging women for sex right? It's ok, he tricked us all. He's a psychopath & rapist
— Eddie (@eddieb2) July 12, 2015
@MrChuckD … and Cosby's so0called legacy SHOULD be erased bcuz, now we cant laugh at reruns KNOWING he was RAPING girls at the SAME TIME
— NuruUnchained (@NuruUnchained) July 12, 2015
https://twitter.com/Dok_Kang/status/620267983961612288
@MrChuckD 'United we stand. Divided we're nothing!'
— Tom (@Tommy_1972) July 12, 2015
@MrChuckD this solid big brotha!
— . (@Prose_afc412) July 12, 2015
@MrChuckD some of us "old" folks are in here & appreciating you're words & wisdom man, and THIS/twitter may be how the new generation learns
— Michael4Florida ☮️? (@Michael4Florida) July 12, 2015