Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction was suddenly overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last week. Now the 83-year-old comedian has launched a tirade against Howard University's rebuke of incoming College of Fine Arts dean Phylicia Rashad after her enthusiastic support of her former on-air husband following his exoneration.
A statement released yesterday (July 4) by Cosby's longtime spokesperson Andrew Hyatt reads as follows [via Deadline]:
Howard University you must support one's Freedom of Speech (Ms. Rashad), which is taught or suppose[d] to be taught every day at that renowned law school, which resides on your campus. This (sic) mainstream media are the Insurrectionists, who stormed the Capitol. Those same Media Insurrectionists are trying to demolish the Constitution of [the] United States of America on this Independence Day. No technicality — it's a violation of one's rights & we the people stand in support of Ms. Phylicia Rashad.
Rashad, who played Cosby's wife Clair Huxtable on the Cosby Show, made a celebratory tweet upon the release of the disgraced comedian, saying: "FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted — a miscarriage of justice is corrected!"
She later retracted those comments and expressed her support for survivors of sexual assault:
Afterwards, Rashad continued to apologize by penning a letter to Howard students and their parents on July 2.
Yesterday, Howard issued its own statement:
While Dean Rashad has acknowledged in her follow-up tweet that victims must be heard and believed, her initial tweet lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault. Personal positions of University leadership do not reflect Howard University's policies. We will continue to advocate for survivors fully and support their right to be heard.
There have been no updates yet as to whether Rashad's forthcoming position at the school is secure or not.
In 2018, Cosby was found guilty of drugging and molesting former basketball player Andrea Cornstand in 2004. He had served more than two years of his sentence. More than 60 women have accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting them.
A statement released yesterday (July 4) by Cosby's longtime spokesperson Andrew Hyatt reads as follows [via Deadline]:
Howard University you must support one's Freedom of Speech (Ms. Rashad), which is taught or suppose[d] to be taught every day at that renowned law school, which resides on your campus. This (sic) mainstream media are the Insurrectionists, who stormed the Capitol. Those same Media Insurrectionists are trying to demolish the Constitution of [the] United States of America on this Independence Day. No technicality — it's a violation of one's rights & we the people stand in support of Ms. Phylicia Rashad.
Rashad, who played Cosby's wife Clair Huxtable on the Cosby Show, made a celebratory tweet upon the release of the disgraced comedian, saying: "FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted — a miscarriage of justice is corrected!"
She later retracted those comments and expressed her support for survivors of sexual assault:
I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth. Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing.
— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021
Afterwards, Rashad continued to apologize by penning a letter to Howard students and their parents on July 2.
Yesterday, Howard issued its own statement:
While Dean Rashad has acknowledged in her follow-up tweet that victims must be heard and believed, her initial tweet lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault. Personal positions of University leadership do not reflect Howard University's policies. We will continue to advocate for survivors fully and support their right to be heard.
There have been no updates yet as to whether Rashad's forthcoming position at the school is secure or not.
In 2018, Cosby was found guilty of drugging and molesting former basketball player Andrea Cornstand in 2004. He had served more than two years of his sentence. More than 60 women have accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting them.
