# Can we talk about Bill Cosby? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075 "2014-11-19T15:24:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 32
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/622 "2014-12-13T17:30:59Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I would say that the similarities, combined with the fact that many of the women seem to have witnesses who claim they told that story privately at the time – when the women presumably hadn’t talked to each other, or read the public comments – is what makes them believable. I think the fact that they’re similar but not identical has the ring of truth. It would be hard for all these people to independently come up with stories that are similar but _just_ different enough to show that they aren’t just copycatting what someone else said. The other thing is, why would these women lie about Bill Cosby in particular, if their goal is to squeeze money out of someone? Anyone who has been around Hollywood has encountered other rich, blackmail-able men, and probably a lot who would be much more believable as skeevy casting-couch guys. Why would you pick someone who you know people have such a good opinion of that you know they won’t believe you? And why would you make it part of the story that they were helping you with jobs & tuition money and stuff? It just doesn’t add up. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/623 "2014-12-16T17:15:41Z")
There are certain parallels between the Cosby situation and the [Jerry Sandusky](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Sandusky) case from a while back. A respected person engaging in long-running sexual abuse, whispered suspicions and rumors and a seemingly oblivious wife in denial. The adamant deniers in the threads also had similar arguments. Any small discrepancy meant all claims were bogus. I’m reminded of a Dave Chappelle [sketch](http://www.cc.com/video-clips/5uemlz/chappelle-s-show-celebrity-trial-jury-selection---uncensored) where he’s in jury selection for the R. Kelly trial saying what evidence would convince him of Kelly’s guilt: > [@](#): > > Prosecutor: Mr. Chappelle, what would it take to convince you that R. Kelly is guilty? > > Dave Chappelle: Okay, I’d have to see a video of him singing “Pee On You,” two forms of government ID, a police officer there to verify the whole thing, four or five of my buddies and Neal taking notes, and R. Kelly’s grandma to confirm his identity. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/624 "2014-12-16T17:28:44Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > There are certain parallels between the Cosby situation and the [Jerry Sandusky](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Sandusky) case from a while back. A respected person engaging in long-running sexual abuse, whispered suspicions and rumors and a seemingly oblivious wife in denial. > > The adamant deniers in the threads also had similar arguments. Any small discrepancy meant all claims were bogus. I was an active participant in the Paterno thread, and I don’t recall a single poster claiming that all claims against Sandusky were bogus, using the argument that you assert was used or any other arguments. If you can provide a cite for your claim I’d be interested. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/625 "2014-12-16T17:47:12Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I was an active participant in the Paterno thread, and I don’t recall a single poster claiming that all claims against Sandusky were bogus, using the argument that you assert was used or any other arguments. > > If you can provide a cite for your claim I’d be interested. Certainly not all posters were deniers. But does the “Paper Towel Roll Defense” ring a bell? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/626 "2014-12-16T18:07:10Z")
It certainly rings a bell, but it was not a claim that “_all claims were bogus_”, let alone a claim that “_any small discrepancy meant all claims were bogus_”. Do you have anything else? ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/627 "2014-12-16T20:28:36Z")
Now Kathy Lee Gifford? He apparently tried to kiss anything with breasts and a pulse! ---
**Author:** ![Sciency](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Sciency](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sciency)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/628 "2014-12-16T22:05:40Z")
One thing is sure: if someone gets to the bottom of this story, it won’t be the media, the journalists or anyone in the public. Like in most scandals, the truth rarely comes out when there are too many parties interested in the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/629 "2014-12-16T23:29:22Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Now Kathy Lee Gifford? He apparently tried to kiss anything with breasts and a pulse! Could you provide a link to what you’re talking about? You seem to be implying that Kathie Lee Gifford made a claim against Cosby. I did a quick search to see what you saw. This is what I found: From [People magazine](http://www.people.com/article/kathie-lee-gifford-bill-cosby-sexual-abuse-allegations): > [@](#): > > “In the two years I saw a steady parade of all kinds of people going in and out of his house and his dressing room, but Bill was good to people, very generous to people,” Gifford told PEOPLE at the Citymeals-on-Wheels 28th Annual Power Lunch for Women in N.Y.C. on Friday. “I personally never saw him treat a woman the way it’s been alleged, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen – I never saw it.” ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/630 "2014-12-16T23:34:55Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > Could you provide a link to what you’re talking about? You seem to be implying that Kathie Lee Gifford made a claim against Cosby. Nevermind. I found it. It’s interesting that Kathie Lee Gifford changed her story so quickly from 3 weeks ago. She’s [now said](http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/12/16/kathie-lee-gifford-bill-cosby-tried-to-kiss-me/): > [@](#): > > “I along with so many Americans and people around the world don’t want these (accusations) to be true,” she said on the “Today” show, according to the New York Daily News. "I will admit towards the end of the tour the last time I saw him he did try to kiss me. > > "I said, ‘No,’ I said, ‘Bill, we’re friends.’ > > “He said, 'OK, good night,” and I said, ‘Good night.’ I went into my room and he went into his room." ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/631 "2014-12-17T00:16:51Z")
no charges will be brought in the case of the then 15 year old accuser according to tv news. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/632 "2014-12-17T01:54:25Z")
Quote: > [@](#): > > “I along with so many Americans and people around the world don’t want these (accusations) to be true,” she said on the “Today” show, according to the New York Daily News. "I will admit towards the end of the tour the last time I saw him he did try to kiss me. > > "I said, ‘No,’ I said, ‘Bill, we’re friends.’ > > “He said, 'OK, good night,” and I said, ‘Good night.’ I went into my room and he went into his room." > Reply With Quote She’s sneak bragging. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/633 "2014-12-18T23:06:52Z")
> [@](#): > > “He said, 'OK, good night,” and I said, ‘Good night.’ I went into my room and he went into his room." "…and then I unlocked my adjoining door and he unlocked his adjoining door and he banged me like a cobbler working a shoe on his bench till the cock crowed. Frank? Frank had nothing on The Ole Cos- and Cos fed me ‘Happy Sauce’ drinks all night. " ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/634 "2014-12-21T08:50:47Z")
Posted this in the “Enough” thread but thought it belonged here as well: [Apropos Beverly Johnson.](https://tv.yahoo.com/news/bill-cosby-attorney-says-cnn-decided-not-interview-215347571.html) (With a side dish of media bias) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/635 "2014-12-21T13:43:00Z")
I’ll repost my response from the Pit thread: > [@Enough from the defenders of rapists already](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enough-from-the-defenders-of-rapists-already/705392/720): > > Good for you! You actually found something that may actually cast some sort of doubt (if the report is true) on Johnson’s story. Unlike all the other crap you spouted. > > But good for you! I’m proud of you. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/636 "2014-12-21T17:19:46Z")
And I’ll post my response to your response from that thread: “Actually it was her story itself that cast doubt on her story. I spotted it. You didn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/637 "2014-12-21T18:49:18Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > And I’ll post my response to your response from that thread: > > “Actually it was her story itself that cast doubt on her story. I spotted it. You didn’t.” This is false. We can continue to discuss why in the other thread, if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/638 "2014-12-22T02:22:19Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Posted this in the “Enough” thread but thought it belonged here as well: > > [Apropos Beverly Johnson.](https://tv.yahoo.com/news/bill-cosby-attorney-says-cnn-decided-not-interview-215347571.html) (With a side dish of media bias) One media outlet didn’t include on opposing viewpoint! Cosby is innocent! Regardless of the fact that the boyfriend’s doesn’t do more than provide a little doubt on Johnson’s story. There’s still all the other accusations that are unrelated to each other. You need to come up with a lot more than this. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/639 "2014-12-23T23:00:02Z")
saw on line claim he raped Sammy Davis Jr.'s road girlfriend. tldr. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/640 "2014-12-29T07:41:43Z")
The New York Times: [Cosby Team’s Strategy: Hush the Accusers, Insult Them, Blame the Media.](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/29/arts/cosby-teams-strategy-hush-accusers-insult-them-blame-the-media.html?hpw&rref=television&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well) Cosby’s lawyers have engaged in > [@](#): > > …an organized and expensive effort that involved quashing accusations as they emerged while raising questions about the accusers’ character and motives, both publicly and surreptitiously. And the team has never been shy about blasting the news media for engaging in a feeding frenzy even as the team made deals or slipped the news organizations information that would cast Mr. Cosby’s accusers in a negative light. > [@](#): > > Playing hardball with people who make (and report on) incendiary claims is hardly a new tactic in the celebrity world. But given the volume and severity of the recent charges, with numerous women saying Mr. Cosby drugged and then sexually assaulted them, some legal and public relations practitioners question the wisdom of continuing to counterpunch. > > “Sometimes in a case like this, less can be more,” said Benjamin Brafman, a criminal defense lawyer who represented Dominique Strauss-Kahn. “Attacking someone who is perceived to be a ‘victim’ can often be unproductive.” > > “I would suggest,” Mr. Brafman added, “a softly spoken denial rather than an outspoken challenge to the integrity of the women now coming forward. Simply put, it may be better to say nothing than try and engage so many.” I think this is really going to backfire on Cosby. This does not look like the behavior of a wrongly accused innocent person. If all the accusations weren’t enough, this makes him look like a complete bastard. What if there are victims out there who would fall within the statute of limitations and open the door to a criminal prosecution? Could this be a desperate attempt to dissuade them from coming forward? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/641 "2014-12-29T11:33:12Z")
I think it’s a good strategy. Kinda similar to going negative with political ads. Make people think that both sides are wrong. I still think the accusations are false, but he’s already been crucified in the media and found guilty. Exposing these women for what they are won’t hurt him more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075.md?page=33)