The last few weeks have not been good for Bill Cosby as new allegations have been made against the actor who has built an entire career on his wholesome image. An entire generation was raised on Cosby's portrayal of Dr. Cliff Huxtable and his peddling Pudding Pops during commercial breaks. Now, this same man is being painted as a serial rapist by at least 13 different woman who, at least up until now, have never met.
Last week, a former teen actress named Barbara Bowman penned an editorial in The Washington Post, accusing Cosby of drugging and raping her back in the 1980s. Yesterday, Joan Tarshis decided that it was her turn to speak up and tell CNN in an exclusive interview of what allegedly happened to her more than 30 years ago. Tarshis tells a story similar to what all of Cosby's other Jane Doe's have told authorities: She claims to have been drugged and raped by Cosby on more than one occasion.
Cosby has canceled appearances and has staunchly refused to comment personally regarding the latest rash of allegations. His attorney, John P. Schmitt, did issue a statement, saying, "Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment."
There is always a problem when you have unidentified people scattered across the country telling a similar story. What makes this whole issue seem like it carries some weight is the fact that back in 2006 Cosby settled a case filed by Andrea Constand, a staffer for Temple University's women's basketball team. She had accused him of drugging and molesting her at his suburban Philadelphia home. The fact that Cosby settled that case has led many to question the validity of all the other allegations that various women have brought against him.
