Bill Cosby. The family man. Actor, producer and one of the only stand-up comedians whose humor is clean enough to play in a car full of children. And now, alleged rapist.
Bill Cosby. The family man. Actor, producer and one of the only stand-up comedians whose humor is clean enough to play in a car full of children. And now, alleged rapist.Creator of The Cosby Show and Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Bill Cosby has been a house-hold name for years. Loved by both children and parents alike, his humor has brought joy to many.
But this past November, the Washington Post reported “sixteen women have publicly stated that Cosby sexually assaulted them, with twelve saying he drugged them first and another saying he attempted to drug her.”
This wasn’t the first time Cosby was accused of sexual misconduct. Since January 2000, a number of individuals have reported that Cosby previously assaulted them, with some accusations going as far back as the 1960’s. In 2005, Andrea Constand accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting her and filed a civil claim against him. Cosby settled however, and the case never made it to court.
As a result of the recent allegations, The Cosby Show has been pulled off the air, but Bill Cosby’s personal webpage remains online. Thus far, Cosby has refused to comment, neither acknowledging nor denying the accusations. It is unlikely that he will be criminally prosecuted, since the only case that falls within the criminal statute of limitations is the Andrea Constand incident, which previously was not prosecuted due to a lack of evidence and was already settled outside of court.
The allegations against Cosby have left Stern students, like most of the general public, rather disheartened. One student said, “It’s these types of scandals that make you realize you never truly know a person. It’s a huge disappointment and letdown from such a beloved and admired man.” Another student pointed to the family and child-oriented shows Cosby produced, The Cosby Show and Little Bill, and said that the wholesome family dynamic he portrays on the shows now seems to be “a shocking lie.” She then said, “I think he should just come clean because…not coming forward [is] just making [it] worse.”
Children typically spend the formative years of their lives viewing their parents or primary caregivers as perfect, godlike objects, who provide for their every need. But eventually that image is shattered. It may be something as minor as missing carpool pick-up or forgetting a birthday, but in failing to meet the child’s expectations, the parent has disappointed child. Family-friendly comedian Bill Cosby is no exception.
Cosby is not the only star to disappoint as of late. He joins the ever-growing list of athletes, celebrities and politicians who betray public trust and let down fans and followers. From the baseball players children idolize who use steroids to enhance their performances, to the rising number of NFL players being arrested this year for domestic violence and drug-related charges, to the college football coaches who abuse their players, to the Food Network star who makes racist comments and gets taken off the air, to the former child actors now arrested for DUI’s and drug abuse, to the former Disney Channel star who posts a pro-Palestinian tweet, to the politicians guilty of white-collar crimes and sexual misconduct. The people in the spotlight, who are looked up to as icons and role-models, constantly make poor choices that disappoint many.
Perhaps the real role models in this situation are the brave women who stood up and came forward to make these allegations against Cosby. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in America and the creator of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, has stated that since these women stepped forward and accused Cosby, there has been an increase in phone calls to the national hotline. These women have inspired others to take action and raise awareness against sexual abuse, making them the genuine role models.