After weeks of silence, Bill Cosby’s reps issued a pair of statements about rape allegations against him. The allegations all seem to go back years, and all of them are likely too old to fall within a statute of limitations and be prosecutable if they were found to be true. But the inconvenience to Cosby, at minimum, and likely damage to his reputation, are still an issue.
The first statement appeared on Cosby’s website on Sunday:
“Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact 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.”
That statement has since been deleted from Cosby’s site. It was replaced with another that clarified the first.
“Joint statement from Dolores Troiani, counsel to Andrea Constand, and John P. Schmitt, counsel to Bill Cosby.
“The statement released by Mr. Cosby’s attorney over the weekend was not intended to refer in any way to Andrea Constand. As previously reported, differences between Mr. Cosby and Ms. Constand were resolved to the mutual satisfaction of Mr. Cosby and Ms. Constand years ago. Neither Mr. Cosby nor Ms. Constand intends to comment further on the matter.”
But whether he intends to comment on it or not, that may still not be the end for Cosby. A new accuser has come forward.
Hollywood Elsewhere released a statement from one Joan Tarshis, described as a “former actress, music industry publicist and journalist.” She extensively described multiple alleged encounters with Cosby.
“I was 19 years old in autumn of 1969 …”
“…The next thing I remember was coming to on his couch while being undressed. Through the haze I thought I was being clever when I told him I had an infection and he would catch it and his wife would know he had sex with someone. But he just found another orifice to use. I was sickened by what was happening to me and shocked that this man I had idolized was now raping me. Of course I told no one.”
She also described a second separate alleged incident.
“I remember noticing that his leather shaving kit was filled with bottles of pills, and thinking that this seemed odd. He was, of course, very friendly and I, of course, was very uncomfortable. He made me a [drink], and I, being nervous and dealing at the time with an alcohol problem (I’ve been in recovery since 1988), drank it. In the car I had something else to drink, but was already beginning to feel a bit stoned…
“I remember feeling very, very stoned and asking his chauffeur to take me back to the car. I was having trouble standing up. The next thing I remember was waking up in his bed back at the [hotel], naked.”
