All About Laughs
Bill Cosby is a free man, but it seems like his former television wife Phylicia Rashad is getting all the heat following his release. Cosby was serving time in federal prison stemming from various accusations throughout his career. Rashad has maintained full support of her co-star throughout it all, being one of the first to come forward to celebrate following the announcement. Many have criticized her for this, even calling for her to be removed from her newly appointed position as Dean at Howard University.
FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected! pic.twitter.com/NrGUdwr23c
— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021
Cosby is walking free after serving 3 years in federal prison. According to the New York Post, “Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned Bill Cosby’s conviction Wednesday after finding an agreement with a previous prosecutor prevented him from being charged in the case.”
Some have disagreed with Cosby’s release. BET News Host Marc Lamont Hill came forward to remind people that Cosby’s release is not a sign of his innocence. He tweeted “BILL COSBY IS NOT INNOCENT. HE HAS NOT BEEN EXONERATED.” While some tried to combat him on his tweet, he reminded followers that Cosby did admit to the crimes. He also agrees that Cosby’s legal rights may have been violated resulting in his release, it does not change that he has confessed to the things he’s accused of.
I’m basing my claims about Cosby on his own admitted behaviors. I’m not making a judgement about his legal status. And I’m certainly not “persecuting” him. I wonder if you think Darren Wilson or George Zimmerman were being “persecuted” after their trials were over. https://t.co/LD62PYCIs4
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) July 1, 2021
Unlike Hill, Phylicia Rashad has stood by Cosby since day one. She has gone on record stating that she believes this is all an orchestrated attack on Mr. Cosby and that what is truly happening is the destruction of a legacy. Understandably she was overjoyed in the news that he would be released. She took to twitter yesterday to show support for her former television husband and friend following the announcement that he had been set free. “Finally!!! A terrible wrong is being righted. a miscarriage of justice is corrected.” After some blowback she did elaborate that her post was not meant to be insensitive of survivors.
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
Many felt this stance and statement did not sit well coming from the newly appointed college dean, however Howard University released a statement today in response to Rashad’s tweet. They say “Howard will stand with survivors and challenge systems that would deny them justice, we have full confidence that our faculty and school leadership will live up to this sacred commitment.”
