Phylicia Rashad Defends Bill Cosby Against Rape Allegations

Phylicia Rashad, the iconic TV wife from the Bill Cosby Show is speaking up for the 77-year-old comedian who has been named by about 20 women in rape allegations over the past few months. So far, many of Bill Cosby's friends and colleagues kept their distance, so Phylicia Rashad standing by his side will surely mean a lot. In a recent interview, she said;

“Forget these women. 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.”

Phylicia Rashad, known by many as Clair Huxtable from The Cosby Show, told Showbiz 411 that from her time spent working with the legendary comedian, she never saw anything to indicate that Bill Cosby was doing, or had done any of the things many women have said.

Rashad says she believes the controversy surrounding Cosby’s name is part of a larger plot, which goes beyond his female accusers - to end his career.

“Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV, and it’s worked. All his contracts have been canceled.”

She also defended Camille Cosby, Bill Cosby's real life wife of more than 50 years. Phylicia Rashad is of the opinion that there was no way Camille Cosby would stand by her husband if such behavior was taking place.

“This is a tough woman, a smart woman. She’s no pushover.” 

Another person who has spoken up for Bill Cosby is youngest TV daughter from the show, Keshia Knight Pulliam. She was shown earlier this week as being fired from Celebrity Apprentice after not calling Bill Cosby and asking him for money as part of the reality show’s challenge.

In an interview with Today, Pulliam said that the person portrayed in the sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby is very different from the man she knows.

“All I can speak to is the man I know and I love the fact that he has been such an example [and] you can’t take away from the great he has done, the millions and millions of dollars he has given back to colleges and education, and just what he did with The Cosby Show and how groundbreaking that was.” 

So far, more than 20 women have accused Bill Cosby of harassing, drugging and sexually assaulting them. Most of the women say he used drugs, his charm, iconic status, and wealth to intimidate them.