Camille Cosby has stood by her man, mostly silently. After years of accusations, all it took was one cell phone video of Hannibal Buress’ stand-up comedy show to light the fuse on Bill Cosby’s career.
For months, Bill and Camille Cosby have weathered the press and tabloid storms. Camille told us all that Bill was “the man you thought you knew.” Each accusation was denied and decried by attorneys, if it was answered at all. Attorneys fought the unsealing of depositions. They responded when the contents of those depositions were released.
The back-and-forth of women and lawyers has gone on for so long, some have been left to wonder who to believe. It is true that many others used Quaaludes for consensual sex in the 70s. It is true that Camille Cosby knew that Bill had had affairs before. It all seemed too much to decipher.
In the war for public opinion, it seemed to be Cosby’s word against each woman’s word.
But a picture is worth a thousand words. And New York Magazine just fired a volley that is breathtaking in its simplicity, and could be devastating in its effect on Bill Cosby. Has Camille Cosby seen this?
“Cosby: The Women, An Unwelcome Sisterhood,” is the headline of the social media shared version of the picture.
Its caption reads:
“So far, 46 women have come forward to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault, in some cases, according to a recently unsealed deposition, with the aid of Quaaludes-a powerful sedative that can render a person functionally immobile. But these allegations are by no means new, with some stretching back decades-to a time when the culture of rape in America left victims little recourse but to suffer silently, and in shame.”
“Today, the way we think and talk about rape has evolved, creating a safer space for survivors to feel empowered by speaking up and reclaiming their victimhood. And that’s led us here. Of the 46 women who have come forward to accuse Cosby, we spoke to 35 of them – ‘a sorrowful sisterhood’ of women united by their dark experiences, steadfast in their resolve to remain silent no more.”
While other news outlets have run more-or-less complete lists of the Cosby accusers, including The Wrap, Fox News, and Slate, the New York Mag cover and accompanying spread is the first time this many of the women were brought together in one frame.
The effect of seeing all these accusers together in one place, all standing unafraid against the man they say drugged and took advantage of them, is hard to estimate. But the comments are already rolling in.
Reading that New York mag piece about Cosby. Bruh. That guy has some serious issues.
— Modal and Free (@BrokeJackJonson) July 28, 2015
wow!!! New York Mag went IN on Bill Cosby….it's an entire spread…they playing NO GAMES….
— JONESY (@LyricJones) July 27, 2015
35 of the women who allege Bill Cosby have appeared on a NEW York mag cover. 11 more didnt appear.
Hang the prick.
— Edwinsson (@Edwinsson) July 27, 2015
Seeing all these women in one place, might Camille Cosby decide to distance herself from Bill’s trouble?
Speechless after reading the Cosby story from the New York Mag. He's a very sick dude.
— Money Making Vick (@VickyDoe) July 27, 2015
reading the new york mag cosby piece and i feel like i'm literally going to vomit
— Sophie Weiner (@sophcw) July 27, 2015
How will Camille Cosby, as Bill’s manager, respond to the kind of damage that this piece could do?
I couldn't even finish all of the testimonies from the New York Mag interview of only a portion of Bill Cosby's victims.
— Amira Perryman (@LookingInAmira) July 27, 2015
