Chuck D Accuses Bill Cosby Critics of "Character Assassination": "Akin to Nazi Book-Burning"
11:40 AM PDT 7/12/2015 by Mitchell Peters, Billboard

Chuck D - S 2015
"Phil Spector still plays," the hip-hop star tweeted Sunday about the music producer who was convicted of murder in 2009.
Chuck D shared his thoughts about the Bill Cosby sexual assault controversy on social media over the weekend.
The hip-hop legend and Public Enemy co-founder suggested to his nearly 500,000 Twitter followers that Cosby's legacy shouldn't be destroyed because of the numerous rape allegations against him.
"No way I'm defending Cosby. But this wiping history out wit a swoop is akin to Nazi book burning," he wrote.
Chuck D likened the situation to super-producer Phil Spector, who was convicted of killing actress Lana Clarkson in 2009. Even though Spector is serving 19 years to life, people still listen to the music he produced.
"Context is everything," the rapper tweeted. "Phil Spector still plays."
But not everyone agreed with Chuck D's feelings about the matter. "Cosby's so-called legacy SHOULD be erased bcuz, now we cant laugh at reruns KNOWING he was RAPING girls at the SAME TIME," one Twitter user wrote.
Another tweeted, "Chuck D going to bat for Cosby making my head hurt."
Check out a sampling of his tweets below.
We are living in a wild bizarre time. Character assassination very real DrCosby & ConFed flag down in same week.Status is currency to masses
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 12, 2015
They're taking his name & statues down but is every situation giving his money back to him since its dirty money? #BillCosby
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 12, 2015
Question do some of yall start stop listening to Marvin Gaye records because of drug addiction? Attempted murder? Wife Abuse? Pedophilia?
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 12, 2015
No way Im defending Cosby.But this wiping history out wit a swoop is akin to Nazi book burning.Context is everything.PhilSpector still plays
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 12, 2015
@MrChuckD ... and Cosby's so0called legacy SHOULD be erased bcuz, now we cant laugh at reruns KNOWING he was RAPING girls at the SAME TIME
— NuruUnchained (@NuruUnchained) July 12, 2015
This story first appeared on Billboard.com.