Netflix Pulls Bill Cosby Comedy Special

Netflix has backed away from its planned Bill Cosby comedy special in light of the ongoing allegations of sexual assault being brought by several women. The comedy special “Bill Cosby 77” was slated to premiere over the Thanksgiving holiday.

“At this time we are postponing the launch of the new stand up special ‘Bill Cosby 77,'” a Netflix spokesperson told TheWrap.

Also read: Newly Emerged Bill Cosby Accuser Says She Wants People to ‘Understand That He’s Not Mr. Clean’

Netflix’s decision came after Janice Dickinson was the latest woman to claim she’d been assaulted by the 77-year old comedian. She told her story to “Entertainment Tonight” on Tuesday. She joins more than a dozen women who have come forth with similar stories of being drugged and sexually assaulted.

On Sunday, TheWrap spoke with Joan Tarshis, a former actress and publicist, who said that she was coming forward to stand with her “sisters.” This was shortly after actress Barbara Bowman penned an op-ed for the Washington Post about her alleged assault.

Also read: Hollywood Crisis Experts to Bill Cosby: ‘Shut the F-ck Up!’

Cosby refused to address the allegations during an interview with NPR. On Sunday, his attorney addressed the previous charges, saying, “The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment.”

Over the weekend, an individual with knowledge of the NBC project told TheWrap it was still moving forward, and is currently in early development. At that time, though, an individual with knowledge of the situation at Netflix indicated they still intended to release the special on Thanksgiving.

See video: Bill Cosby Is a ‘Serial Rapist,’ Accuser Joan Tarshis Tells CNN’s Don Lemon (Video)

Will NBC follow Netflix’s lead and cancel its own project? Representatives for NBC declined to comment.

11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy -- From 'Honey Boo Boo' to 'Politically Incorrect' (Photos)

Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”
Food Network
“Politically Incorrect” – ABC pulled the plug on Bill Maher’s talk show after the host disagreed with President Bush calling the terrorists behind the September 11^th attacks cowards. Maher asserted that the U.S. military response in the Middle East was cowardly, saying: “We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."
Getty Images
“Luck” – HBO canceled Dustin Hoffman's series after three horses died during production.
HBO
“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” – TLC abruptly canceled the reality show after reports that June Shannon, mother to the young star of the series, was dating a convicted child molester.
TLC
“Ford Nation” – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s talk show, co-hosted by his brother Doug, lasted only one episode. The program premiered on the same day the Toronto City Council voted to strip Ford of most of his powers and budget.
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“The Good Life” – CeeLo Green’s reality show was canned by TBS days after the musician pleaded no contest to a felony charge of giving a woman the drug ecstasy. He then tweeted: “People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!”
Getty Images
“7^th Heaven,” in syndication – Reruns of The WB series were pulled from UP TV after audio tapes surfaced of the show’s patriarchal star Stephen Collins admitting to child molestation.
The WB
CNN’s Hillary Clinton documentary – Director Charles Ferguson pulled out of the project after Democrats, Republicans and the Clintons themselves criticized the film. CNN Films then canceled their plans to move forward with the documentary.
Getty Images
“All My Babies' Mamas” – Oxygen was in the midst of developing a special featuring rapper Shawty Lo and his family of 11 children from 10 different women. An online petition to cancel the show led the cable channel to shelve the project.
Oxygen
“Buckwild” – MTV suspended production on the reality series following the death of cast member Shain Gandee. The 21-year-old was found dead of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
MTV
"Flip It Forward" – Twin brothers Jason and David Benham were set to star in their own HGTV series, but the network shut down those plans after learning about homophobic, anti-Muslim and anti-abortion statements they’d made in the past.
HGTV

1 of 11

All of these series had the plug pulled on them under less than ideal circumstances

Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”

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11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy -- From 'Honey Boo Boo' to 'Politically Incorrect' (Photos)

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