Cosby is famously a Philadelphia native.
Philly media reported the joke the next day. Internet media reported the joke the next day. A patron uploaded a video of the joke to YouTube. Howard Stern invited Buress to appear on Stern's radio show. The video appeared across the internet. This is all during the period October 17-21.
Since then, it's growed like Topsy. Everyone and his sister interviewed Buress or reported on the joke, which Buress had put in his act about seven months ago, but nobody paid attention until Buress told the joke in Philly.
In his joke, which a zillion people saw on YouTube and other sites, Buress says "it's not funny. Google 'Cosby rape.' You'll get more hits than you do with #$*@& Hannibal Buress." People Googled "Cosby rape." Members of the media Googled 'Cosby rape." Jaws dropped.
People of a certain generation said "oh, yeah, I'd forgotten . . . "
The media began reviving old, old stories and people began believing that women who came forward 30 years ago, plus or minus, were now coming forward for the first time.
Other women began coming forward, and here we are.
thanks!