# Is it normal behavior for big male stars to mentor aspiring female actresses the way Cosby did? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 17, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244 "2017-06-17T20:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/1 "2017-06-17T20:29:07Z")
I know there are some dopers familiar with the entertainment industry so if they would weigh in it would be appreciated. I have not followed the Cosby trial in a detailed fashion and I know even less about the norms of the entertainment industry in the 70’s and 80’s but in looking at the accusations against him a number seem to involve personal dinners and one on one get-togethers on the pretext of some kind of mentoring that eventually wound up back at personal residences where it is asserted he would drug and molest them. Putting Cosby’s alleged drugging aside is this sort of interaction normal in the entertainment business? If I was looking to hire or recommend a woman for a job I can’t even conceive of anything more than possibly a lunch meeting or meeting in my office. I am wondering what the norms are in the entertainment business regarding this. It’s a “people” business more than administrative so I suppose you’ve got to get to get to know someone personally but is this level of intimacy in meetings normal with people (objectively) far less powerful and more desperate than you or are men who do this usually looking for some kind of exchange of favors? It seems kinda-sorta predatory on the face of it but is that level of intimacy just the way business is normally done in the entertainment industry? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/2 "2017-06-17T20:31:03Z")
Ever heard of the casting couch? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/3 "2017-06-17T20:35:11Z")
Like Cosby is alleged to have done? Happens all the time. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/4 "2017-06-17T20:43:29Z")
A finalist on The Voice got the attention of Prince. I think he was actually mentoring her. Along with… Dating > **[Prince to Judith Hill After Overdose: 'I Had to Fight for My](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/prince-to-judith-hill-after-overdose-i-had-to-fight-for-my-life-228191/)** > > “We knew it was only a matter of time; we had to get down,” Hill says of emergency plane landing ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/5 "2017-06-17T20:47:40Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Ever heard of the casting couch? Sure but that would involve a mutual exchange of favors with both parties being aware of what is expected, in this case I don’t think any of the accusers are saying they had any knowledge of that being the expressed or implied expectation on the table. It is asserted they were approached on the basis of his taking some interest in their career and future success. I suppose the question is, is this something big male stars might normally do (ie non-sexual mentoring interest in a young actresses career) and if so are the one on one dinners and get togethers in residences the way they would go about it? Is this normal behavior in the entertainment world? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/6 "2017-06-17T20:50:38Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Ever heard of the casting couch? I did at location set decorating for movies in Hollywood when I had my decorating business. One of my decorators was a solid 12 on a scale of 1 through 10. She had plenty of mentoring offers from big stars and directors of both sexes who promised to get her into acting. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/7 "2017-06-17T21:25:16Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I suppose the question is, is this something big male stars might normally do (ie non-sexual mentoring interest in a young actresses career)… Before this clarification I was going to answer the first wording of the question, “ **Is it normal behavior for big male stars to mentor aspiring female actresses the way Cosby did?** ”, by saying if you mean mentor spelled F-U-C-K, then yes. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/8 "2017-06-17T21:41:12Z")
I don’t know how exclusive it was to entertainment, but at that time every large company in Britain would have an elderly executive or two with the designated duty ( volunteer ) to take out new young female employees to push them to reach their full potential. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/9 "2017-06-17T22:10:52Z")
Ask Donald Trump if women are willing to trade sexual favors for a chance at celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/10 "2017-06-17T22:13:16Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > Ask Donald Trump if women are willing to trade sexual favors for a chance at celebrity. Yeahbut, the OP has specified NON-sexual contact. Just guidance and mentoring. No pussygrabbing allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/11 "2017-06-17T22:19:02Z")
Thinking on this, I was reminded of Lisa Lisa from Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam. She tells the story of going into a dark basement with four musclebound men who had seen her and wanted to help her in her singing career. She said she remembered thinking that perhaps this wasn’t her best decision. Turned out it was Full Force and they had a recording studio in their basement and they did help her in her music career. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/12 "2017-06-17T22:23:47Z")
From the music business: what’s publicly known about Peter Gabriel’s working relationship with a pre-fame Kate Bush circa 1979-80? ---
**Author:** ![scoots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@scoots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scoots)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/13 "2017-06-17T22:46:18Z")
That wasn’t pre fame. She had a massive number one smash with Wuthering Heights in 1978 followed by another top ten hit, The Man With The Child In his Eyes, the same year. Her first album, The Kick Inside, was released in February 1978 and went to number 3 in the UK. But her family had musical connections anyway - Dave Gilmour helped her get started. He was a friend of a friend of the family. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/14 "2017-06-17T23:07:28Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > Ask Donald Trump if women are willing to trade sexual favors for a chance at celebrity. Or even just a chance to be close to celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/15 "2017-06-17T23:08:02Z")
> [@scoots](#): > > That wasn’t pre fame. She had a massive number one smash with Wuthering Heights in 1978 followed by another top ten hit, The Man With The Child In his Eyes, the same year. > > Her first album, The Kick Inside, was released in February 1978 and went to number 3 in the UK. > > But her family had musical connections anyway - Dave Gilmour helped her get started. He was a friend of a friend of the family. I did not know this about Lisa Lisa! ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/16 "2017-06-17T23:18:37Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Yeahbut, the OP has specified NON-sexual contact. Just guidance and mentoring. No pussygrabbing allowed. I thought we were talking about the sort of mentoring that Cosby did… ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/17 "2017-06-17T23:24:25Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > I thought we were talking about the sort of mentoring that Cosby did… “proposed mentoring” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/18 "2017-06-17T23:26:04Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > I thought we were talking about the sort of mentoring that Cosby did… As per the OP: > [@astro](#): > > Sure but that would involve a mutual exchange of favors with both parties being aware of what is expected, in this case I don’t think any of the accusers are saying they had any knowledge of that being the expressed or implied expectation on the table. It is asserted they were approached on the basis of his taking some interest in their career and future success. > > I suppose the question is, is this something big male stars might normally do (ie non-sexual mentoring interest in a young actresses career) and if so are the one on one dinners and get togethers in residences the way they would go about it? Is this normal behavior in the entertainment world? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/19 "2017-06-17T23:46:28Z")
I don’t think it was actual mentoring; drugs, booze & casual sex with “aspiring actresses” was the norm for Hollywood stars in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and Cosby’s one of the few who’s getting busted for it. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244/20 "2017-06-18T01:22:50Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I don’t think it was actual mentoring; drugs, booze & casual sex with “aspiring actresses” was the norm for Hollywood stars in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and Cosby’s one of the few who’s getting busted for it. Not all of them from Hollywood and TV’s Golden Years lived long enough to be held accountable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-behavior-for-big-male-stars-to-mentor-aspiring-female-actresses-the-way-cosby-did/789244.md?page=2)