Bill Cosby's TV wife, Phylicia Rashad, draws critics and dismissal calls for defending him
Phylicia Rashad has found herself embroiled in controversy later expressing public support for Neb Cosby's release from prison house, with some prominent black voices calling for her dismissal equally dean of Howard University's College of Fine Arts.
It remains to be seen whether Rashad's position at Howard is in jeopardy, but the university quickly distanced itself from her comments.
Rashad, who played Cosby'southward wife for years on the family sitcom The Cosby Show, was named dean of the higher with bang-up fanfare this year. Cosby was released from prison house on Wed (Jun 30) after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his sexual assault conviction, ruling that Cosby'southward agreement with the previous district attorney in 2005 should have prevented him from existence charged in the 2022 case.
Afterward the ruling, Rashad tweeted a picture of Cosby, with the bulletin: "FINALLY!!!! A terrible incorrect is existence righted – a miscarriage of justice is corrected!"
The tweet drew an firsthand online response with a few expressing support but many others attacking Rashad for defending a human accused of drugging and raping multiple women over a menstruum of decades.
Some of the harshest critics called for Rashad to be removed from her post, saying her apparent indifference to serial sexual assault allegations made her unfit for a position of potency over students.
Jelani Cobb, a Columbia University journalism professor and frequent New Yorker mag contributor, tweeted straight to Howard University, bluntly stating: "This person should not be a Dean".
Rashad's support for Cosby is not new. She had publicly defended him during his years-long legal battles. Just the rise of the #Metoo move and her new position at a prominent educational institution have contributed to the intense backlash as Cosby goes free.
Hours afterward her tweet on Wed, Rashad sent out a clarification, stating her sympathy for all survivors of sexual assault but not mentioning Cosby or his case.
"I fully support survivors of sexual attack coming forward. My mail was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth," she wrote. "Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing."
In a statement, Howard acknowledged Rashad'southward clarification and said her initial tweet "lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual set on. Personal positions of Academy leadership exercise not reverberate Howard University's policies. We volition continue to advocate for survivors fully and advocate their right to be heard".
Rashad is a prominent Howard alumnus, and her appointment every bit fine arts dean was hailed as a homecoming, with Howard Provost Anthony K Wutoh stating that her "passion for the arts and student success makes her a perfect fit for this role".
Cosby, 83, had served nearly three years of a three-to-10-year sentence for drugging and violating Temple University sports administrator Andrea Constand in 2004. Afterward his release, he tweeted that he has always maintained his innocence and thanked his fans, supporters and friends who stood by him.
(Source: AP)
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/cosby-show-phylicia-rashad-critics-dismissal-calls-support-bill-270471
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