In an interview with NPR aired on Saturday, Bill Cosby continued to remain quiet about sexual assault allegations against him that have resurfaced. A day later, his attorney released a statement denying the allegations.
“Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced,” said John P. Schmitt, a lawyer for Cosby, in a statement that was published on the comedian’s website. “The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true.”
“Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the outpouring of support and assure them that, at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will be no further statement from Mr. Cosby or any of his representatives,” the statement read.
In an interview with NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday, the entertainer went silent when asked by host Scott Simon about the claims. Cosby and wife Camille were on the show to discuss artwork they had loaned to an exhibition in Washington, D.C.
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Prefacing his questions by saying they gave him “no pleasure,” Simon asked Cosby to address the allegations, to which Cosby just shook his head.
“I’m in the news business,” Simon then explained. “I have to ask the question. Do you have any response to those charges?” This question was also followed by silence.
Simon tried again to elicit a response: “There are people who love you who might like to hear from you about this.” Cosby still refused to comment.
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In 2006, Cosby settled out of court with a woman who claimed he sexually assaulted her. The claims were brought to light last month after comedian Hannibal Buress called Cosby a “rapist.”
A number of Cosby’s planned TV appearances have been canceled, and alleged victim Barbara Bowman provided an account of her experience in a Washington Post op-ed this week. NBC is still developing a sitcom for Cosby to star in, although the pilot’s script has not yet been submitted to the network.
The topic begins at 3:31 in the interview recording below.
7:30 am, Nov. 16 Updated with a statement from Bill Cosby’s lawyer.
Email: Ryan.Gajewski@pgmedia.org
