Phylicia Rashad Defends Bill Cosby, Blasts His Accusers: ‘What You’re Seeing Is the Destruction of a Legacy’
“Cosby Show” matriarch speaks out for first time about the scandal surrounding her former on-screen husband
Anita Bennett | January 6, 2015 @ 8:51 PM
Last Updated: January 8, 2015 @ 12:02 AM
Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad at "Today" show in 2013 (Getty Images)
“Cosby Show” star Phylicia Rashad, who played Bill Cosby‘s wife Clair Huxtable on the sitcom, has broken her silence about the sexual assault scandal involving the embattled comedian.
“Forget these women,” Rashad told Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman in a story published online Tuesday night. “What you’re seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it’s orchestrated. I don’t know why or who’s doing it, but it’s the legacy. And it’s a legacy that is so important to the culture.”
In his report, Friedman said he spoke with Rashad hours earlier at New York’s Metropolitan Club during a Paramount Pictures luncheon for the movie “Selma.”
When asked about the scandal, Rashad initially declined to comment, saying, “I don’t want to become part of the public debate.”
In recent weeks, Cosby has been accused of raping, sexually assaulting or drugging more than 20 women.
When asked how she felt about Cosby, Rashad reportedly said, “I love him.” The Tony Award winner added that she had known the comedian for years and had never seen the behavior alleged by his accusers.
Rashad also dismissed claims by former supermodels Beverly Johnson and Janice Dickinson. “Oh, please,” she said about the two women who have accused Cosby of inappropriate behavior.
“Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV,” Rashad added, alluding to a conspiracy against the television icon. “And it’s worked. All his contracts have been canceled.”
She also said the scandal had ultimately sullied the legacy of “The Cosby Show,” which aired on NBC from 1984 to 1992. The series centered on the upper-class Huxtable family and defied stereotypes about African-Americans.
“This show represented America to the outside world,” Rashad said. “This was the American family. And now you’re seeing it being destroyed. Why?”
Cosby, 77, hasn’t been charged with any crimes stemming from the allegations.
But the fallout prompted the cancellation of a Netflix special, caused NBC to drop a comedy series that was in the works, and has led to several of his stand-up comedy shows being canceled. TV Land also pulled repeats of “The Cosby Show” amid the allegations.
In a statement previously issued to TheWrap, Cosby attorney Martin Singer denounced the star’s accusers: “The new, never-before-heard claims from women who have come forward in the past two weeks with unsubstantiated, fantastical stories about things they say occurred 30, 40, or even 50 years ago have escalated far past the point of absurdity.”
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 11th 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."
“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.
Getty Images
“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
“7th 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.”