I bet comedian Hannibal Buress had no idea the firestorm and controversy his comedy sketch last October would cause.
During his routine, Buress joked about famed comedian Bill Cosby being a rapist. Excerpts of the sketch included the following: “It’s even worse because Bill Cosby has the (expletive) smuggest old Black man persona that I hate. He gets on TV, ‘Pull your pants up Black people; I was on TV in the 80s! I can talk down to you because I had a successful sitcom!’ Yeah, but you rape women, Bill Cosby, so turn the crazy down a couple notches.” Buress went on to say. “I guess I want to just at least make it weird for you to watch ‘The Cosby Show’ reruns. I’ve done this bit on stage and people think I’m making it up…. when you leave here, Google ‘Bill Cosby rape.’ That (expletive) has more results than ‘Hannibal Buress.’”
Buress’ jokes resulted in numerous women coming forward with claims that Bill Cosby raped or physically assaulted them. But the recent claims of abuse were nothing new to Cosby, as dozens of women have made eerily similar claims over the past 40 years. From the onset of the allegations, Americans were almost evenly divided on whether or not Cosby raped the women. A more recent poll by Public Policy Polling showed 41 percent of Americans were still unsure of whether or not Cosby was guilty of sexual assault. However, individuals who were previously uncertain may now be more convinced of Cosby’s guilt based on the recently unsealed court documents from a 2005 civil suit from a woman who claimed Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her.
During the proceedings, the woman’s attorney asked Cosby under oath about his use of prescriptions he had received for pills known as Quaaludes.
“When you got the Quaaludes, was it in your mind that you were going to use these Quaaludes for young women that you wanted to have sex with?” the lawyer asked.
“Yes,” Cosby said, according to the document, which was released after a request by The Associated Press.
U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno unsealed the documents Monday because of what he says is the “stark contrast between Bill Cosby, the public moralist, and Bill Cosby, the subject of serious allegations concerning improper (and perhaps criminal) conduct.”
Cosby’s attempt to fight the release of the documents was unsuccessful.
The release of the new information has resulted in Cosby’s famed “The Cosby Show” being removed from all networks including Black-owned Bounce. In addition, corporate and educational supporters have denounced their support of Cosby.
While Cosby’s lawyers say the comedian did not properly understand the question from the 2005 hearing, the unsealed documents tell us a few key things;
- Cosby is not perfect – despite his on-air persona as the loveable and conscientious Cliff Huxtable, Bill Cosby is not perfect nor should his beloved character be a misrepresentation of Cosby the real-life human being. Oftentimes we place people undeservingly on pedestals – especially celebrities. We should always remember that celebrities are people too and they are imperfect, commit sins and disappoint us in the same manner as other people.
- Where there is smoke, there is fire – While some of Cosby’s accusers may have jumped on the bandwagon although they consented to have sex with the comic, others have been truthful with their claims of rape. Growing up I often heard adults say, “where there is smoke, there is fire,” and that rings true regarding the Cosby case. Sometimes it only takes one courageous person to truthfully tell their story before others have the same courage and determination to stand strong. With the increasing number of women who alleged sexual abuse, there is bound to be some level of validity to the claims.
- Even celebrities should be held accountable – While it is unlikely Cosby will face any real charges for his misconduct because the statute of limitations has expired, he should be held accountable for his indiscretions. Imprisonment may not be Cosby’s punishment, but he has certainly been, and will continue to be punished in other ways such as the removal of his syndicated television shows, the denouncing of support from numerous entities, and the public shame and ostracization he is sure to encounter in the weeks, months and years ahead.
