I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m not defending Cosby, just questioning the timing.
It isn’t hard to believe that young aspiring actresses (and their parents) were willing to throw themselves at his feet and do anything to get a part. It isn’t hard to believe that he took advantage of the offer. It isn’t hard to believe that he had a particular sexual deviancy (young white females who he drugged) because it was a known fact that such drugs (quaaludes) were passed around in bowls like candy at the Hefner Mansion and clubs.
When human beings find a method that allows them to repeat questionable sexual activities, they tend to keep doing it.
The real question should be why did the ‘left’ suppress all this over the years, and just now decide to feign opposition?
THEY ALL KNEW.
No more true than with regard to morally-corrupt Hollywood. We all know stories about those who use their power and influence to take advantage of others sexually and otherwise. And with those around them covering up their behavior, it continues unabated until one unimaginable day when it all comes crashing down - the Day of Judgment.
Cosby’s behavior dating back to the mid 1960s seems to me as if it might have the hallmarks of enabled behavior. That is, the guy was not afraid of losing his job, his livelihood, his career, or his freedom, because he was somehow legally and financially protected by whoever signed off for his NBC checks (eg for I Spy).
If true, that makes the problem larger than Cosby himself. One would have to see where Cosby was in the NBC management food chain in the mid 1960s (starting in December of 1965, the date of the first alleged incident).
That should be a relatively small list.
It would be interesting to work outward from there, and see who else in NBC that guy had on his signoff list, and whether or not there is a history of sexual abuse complaints against them.
NB, rape is as much about power and anger as it is about sex, or so people say.
There must be some info out there on legal, PR, and physical cleanup crews who mop up situations after a big star goes on a rampage.
Back to timing, sometimes the behavior gets so bad (eg Phil Spector) that the result often seems nearly instantaneous. However, if the behavior hovers at borderline cover-uppable, then one might expect results to be delayed for years or decades, if ever.