Bill Cosby Refuses To Speak When NPR Asks About Rape Allegations

Mashable ^ | November 15, 2014 | Johnathan Ellis

[lbryce]

Bill Cosby was asked on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday whether he had anything to say about the resurgence of allegations that he sexually assaulted multiple women years ago. He didn't. Instead, he shook his head, and refused to say a word.

Cosby's long comedy career and pedestal as one of America's favorite TV dads have been overshadowed in recent days, as the allegations have gained new attention, though they are not new. One of his accusers wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post on Thursday, an attempt at a Cosby meme generator was overrun with negative comments and Cosby's scheduled appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman next week has been canceled.

During all of this, Cosby has been silent. That silence continued in the interview broadcast Saturday morning.

NPR's Scott Simon, host of Weekend Edition Saturday, was interviewing Cosby and his wife, Camille, about a very different subject: their loan of more than 60 pieces of art to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art. They had a cordial discussion.

But then, at the end of the interview, Simon changed course. "This question gives me no pleasure, Mr. Cosby, but there have been serious allegations raised about you in recent days," he said. Cosby said nothing, and his body language couldn't be seen by radio listeners. Simon said, "You're shaking your head no."

It seemed as though the interview might have broached a subject that hadn't been agreed to beforehand, given that the story was originally about the art collection. "I'm in the news business," Simon explained. "I have to ask the question. Do you have any response to those charges?"

Again, Simon informed listeners that Cosby was shaking his head no.

[.45 Long Colt]

The one who wrote the op-ed was 15 at the time of the incident and she has been telling people her story for roughly 30 years. Maybe you are on to something. This may be the world’s longest extortion plot.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

So does this mean the press will finally confront Slick Willy about Juanita Brodderick if Hitlery runs for POTUS?

[The_Media_never_lie]

I’m aware the allegations against Cain were not rape but my point is that it almost seemed that way from the way the liberals set him up and forced him to quit the race simply because he was a conservative.

Right. Not even close to rape; consensual though maybe not appropriate. Kind of an ambiguous relationship. Definite double standard. Yet, the media always gets away with it.

[Scoutmaster]

No, no, no, no, no. It's not one or two. It's at least thirteen. It's been at least thirteen women making similar claims since the mid-2000s. Cosby was paying some of them for years.

Just in case you're interested.