• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Security
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Legal
  • Technology and Science
  • Opinion
  • Columns
  • Exposé
  • World
  • Lifestyle
Bill Cosby: The rise, fall and release of 'America's Dad'

Bill Cosby: The rise, fall and release of ‘America’s Dad’

11 months ago
Mexico: Two Children, Others Killed In Gun Attack

More Than 100,000 People Officially Missing In Mexico

2 hours ago
NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

2 hours ago
Aubameyang Announces Retirement From International Football

Aubameyang Announces Retirement From International Football

3 hours ago
NCDMB
ADVERTISEMENT
Int’l Friendly: Mexico Boss Martino To Unveil Wolves’ Raul Jimenez Against Nigeria

Int’l Friendly: Mexico Boss Martino To Unveil Wolves’ Raul Jimenez Against Nigeria

4 hours ago
Nigeria’s Accountant General Bags Indefinite Suspension Over N80bn Fraud

Nigeria’s Accountant General Bags Indefinite Suspension Over N80bn Fraud

6 hours ago
Turkey Blocks Talks With Finland, Sweden On NATO Membership

Turkey Blocks Talks With Finland, Sweden On NATO Membership

7 hours ago
2023: Niger Delta Ex Agitators Commend Sylva’s Move To Withdraw Presidential Ambition

2023: Niger Delta Ex Agitators Commend Sylva’s Move To Withdraw Presidential Ambition

8 hours ago
Aribo, Bassey, Balogun Set To Break All-Time Record In Europa League Final With Rangers

Aribo, Bassey, Balogun Set To Break All-Time Record In Europa League Final With Rangers

9 hours ago
Swedish And Finnish Embassies Face Backlash For Hoisting Gay Pride Flags In Zambia

Swedish And Finnish Embassies Face Backlash For Hoisting Gay Pride Flags In Zambia

9 hours ago
Akwa Ibom Governor Purchases All CAF Cup Final Tickets For Fans

Akwa Ibom Governor Purchases All CAF Cup Final Tickets For Fans

9 hours ago
African Local Content Stakeholders Advocate For More Home-Grown Technology Solution

African Local Content Stakeholders Advocate For More Home-Grown Technology Solution

10 hours ago
Nigeria Businessman, Aliko Dangote Allegedly Broke, Unable To Complete Refinery By 2023 – Report

Nigerian Businessman, Aliko Dangote Allegedly Broke, Unable To Complete Refinery By 2023 – Report

12 hours ago
New Somali President Welcomes Return of US Troops

New Somali President Welcomes Return of US Troops

14 hours ago
Flying Eagles Beat Cote D’Ivoire To Qualify For U20 AFCON

Flying Eagles Beat Cote D’Ivoire To Qualify For U20 AFCON

16 hours ago
Nigeria Humanitarian Minister Mourns Kano Explosion Casualties

Nigeria Humanitarian Minister Mourns Kano Explosion Casualties

1 day ago
Prosperity Cup 2022: Foreign Scouts Set To Storm Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Prosperity Cup 2022: Foreign Scouts Set To Storm Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

1 day ago
Mali: Bomb Kills Two UN Peacekeepers

Mali’s Military Government Says It Foiled Countercoup Attempt

1 day ago
Ethiopia Prime Minister Makes First Visit to Mekelle After Military Action Against Region

Ethiopia Secures $300m World Bank Grant For Reconstruction

1 day ago
AfDB President, Adesina Rules Self Out Of Nigeria's Presidential Race

AfDB President, Adesina Rules Self Out Of Nigeria’s Presidential Race

1 day ago
Money Politics Thwarting Hopes And Aspirations Of Nigeria - Peter Obi

Money Politics Thwarting Hopes And Aspirations Of Nigeria – Peter Obi

1 day ago
ADVERTISEMENT
Thursday, May 19, 2022
  • Photo Speaks
  • Videos
  • You-Report
  • Whistleblower
  • Advertise
  • HT Events
  • About HT
  • Contact
The Heritage Times
No Result
View All Result
Translate | EN FR
  • Login
  • Politics
    2023: Niger Delta Ex Agitators Commend Sylva’s Move To Withdraw Presidential Ambition

    2023: Niger Delta Ex Agitators Commend Sylva’s Move To Withdraw Presidential Ambition

    AfDB President, Adesina Rules Self Out Of Nigeria's Presidential Race

    AfDB President, Adesina Rules Self Out Of Nigeria’s Presidential Race

    Money Politics Thwarting Hopes And Aspirations Of Nigeria - Peter Obi

    Money Politics Thwarting Hopes And Aspirations Of Nigeria – Peter Obi

    Nigeria: EFCC Arrests Accountant-General Of The Federation, Ahmed Idris Over N80bn Fraud

    Nigeria: EFCC Arrests Accountant-General Of The Federation, Ahmed Idris Over N80bn Fraud

    Petroleum Minister, Sylva Withdraws From Presidential Race

    Petroleum Minister, Sylva Withdraws From Presidential Race

    New Somali President Welcomes Return of US Troops

    World Leaders Welcome Somalia’s New President

    Thousands Hold Protests Against Tunisia President

    Thousands Hold Protests Against Tunisia President

    Somalia: Lawmakers Vote To Choose President After 15 Months Delay

    Somalia: Lawmakers Vote To Choose President After 15 Months Delay

    2023: Malami, Ngige Abandon Political Ambitions To Keep Current Job

    2023: Malami, Ngige Abandon Political Ambitions To Keep Current Job

  • Economy
    NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

    NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

    African Local Content Stakeholders Advocate For More Home-Grown Technology Solution

    African Local Content Stakeholders Advocate For More Home-Grown Technology Solution

    Nigeria Businessman, Aliko Dangote Allegedly Broke, Unable To Complete Refinery By 2023 – Report

    Nigerian Businessman, Aliko Dangote Allegedly Broke, Unable To Complete Refinery By 2023 – Report

    Ethiopia Prime Minister Makes First Visit to Mekelle After Military Action Against Region

    Ethiopia Secures $300m World Bank Grant For Reconstruction

    Nigeria: Naira Sees Fall Against Dollar

    Nigeria: Naira Sees Big Fall Against Dollar

    Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Jumps To 16.82% In April 2022

    Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Jumps To 16.82% In April 2022

    Nigeria Issues Crypto Asset Rules In A Move That Could Boost Adoption

    Nigeria Issues Crypto Asset Rules In A Move That Could Boost Adoption

    Ghana Will Solve Debt Crisis Without IMF Aid – Finance Minister

    Ghana Will Solve Debt Crisis Without IMF Aid – Finance Minister

    Botswana Set To Supply Europe Million Tonnes Of Coal Annually - President Masisi

    Botswana Set To Supply Europe Million Tonnes Of Coal Annually – President Masisi

  • Security
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Metro
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Legal
  • Tech & Science
  • Opinion
  • Exposé
  • Exclusive Videos
  • Niger Delta
  • World
  • Politics
    2023: Niger Delta Ex Agitators Commend Sylva’s Move To Withdraw Presidential Ambition

    2023: Niger Delta Ex Agitators Commend Sylva’s Move To Withdraw Presidential Ambition

    AfDB President, Adesina Rules Self Out Of Nigeria's Presidential Race

    AfDB President, Adesina Rules Self Out Of Nigeria’s Presidential Race

    Money Politics Thwarting Hopes And Aspirations Of Nigeria - Peter Obi

    Money Politics Thwarting Hopes And Aspirations Of Nigeria – Peter Obi

    Nigeria: EFCC Arrests Accountant-General Of The Federation, Ahmed Idris Over N80bn Fraud

    Nigeria: EFCC Arrests Accountant-General Of The Federation, Ahmed Idris Over N80bn Fraud

    Petroleum Minister, Sylva Withdraws From Presidential Race

    Petroleum Minister, Sylva Withdraws From Presidential Race

    New Somali President Welcomes Return of US Troops

    World Leaders Welcome Somalia’s New President

    Thousands Hold Protests Against Tunisia President

    Thousands Hold Protests Against Tunisia President

    Somalia: Lawmakers Vote To Choose President After 15 Months Delay

    Somalia: Lawmakers Vote To Choose President After 15 Months Delay

    2023: Malami, Ngige Abandon Political Ambitions To Keep Current Job

    2023: Malami, Ngige Abandon Political Ambitions To Keep Current Job

  • Economy
    NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

    NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

    African Local Content Stakeholders Advocate For More Home-Grown Technology Solution

    African Local Content Stakeholders Advocate For More Home-Grown Technology Solution

    Nigeria Businessman, Aliko Dangote Allegedly Broke, Unable To Complete Refinery By 2023 – Report

    Nigerian Businessman, Aliko Dangote Allegedly Broke, Unable To Complete Refinery By 2023 – Report

    Ethiopia Prime Minister Makes First Visit to Mekelle After Military Action Against Region

    Ethiopia Secures $300m World Bank Grant For Reconstruction

    Nigeria: Naira Sees Fall Against Dollar

    Nigeria: Naira Sees Big Fall Against Dollar

    Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Jumps To 16.82% In April 2022

    Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Jumps To 16.82% In April 2022

    Nigeria Issues Crypto Asset Rules In A Move That Could Boost Adoption

    Nigeria Issues Crypto Asset Rules In A Move That Could Boost Adoption

    Ghana Will Solve Debt Crisis Without IMF Aid – Finance Minister

    Ghana Will Solve Debt Crisis Without IMF Aid – Finance Minister

    Botswana Set To Supply Europe Million Tonnes Of Coal Annually - President Masisi

    Botswana Set To Supply Europe Million Tonnes Of Coal Annually – President Masisi

  • Security
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Metro
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Legal
  • Tech & Science
  • Opinion
  • Exposé
  • Exclusive Videos
  • Niger Delta
  • World
No Result
View All Result
Morning News
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Top Stories

Bill Cosby: The rise, fall and release of ‘America’s Dad’

July 1, 2021
in Top Stories, Entertainment, Featured
0
Bill Cosby: The rise, fall and release of 'America's Dad'

Bill Cosby then and now.

91
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp
ADVERTISEMENT

Bill Cosby was once known to millions as “America’s Dad”, but the comedian had his reputation shattered when he was sentenced to three to 10 years in jail after being convicted of sexual assault.

That judgement has now been overturned, and the 83-year-old has walked free from prison after serving two years of the sentence.

Relatedreading

Nigeria’s Accountant General Bags Indefinite Suspension Over N80bn Fraud

Turkey Blocks Talks With Finland, Sweden On NATO Membership

His role as the benevolent, jumper-wearing Dr Cliff Huxtable in 1980s hit sitcom The Cosby Show made him a national treasure in the US.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

But more than a dozen women accused Mr Cosby of misconduct, and one case made it to court.

Although a jury failed to reach a verdict in June 2017, a retrial originally led to a conviction less than a year later. But in June 2021, Pennsylvania’s highest court ruled he had been denied a fair trial, quashing the guilty verdict.

How did this man, a household name for so long in America, rise and fall so far?

How did his career begin?

Born in 1937 in a social housing complex in Philadelphia, the young William Henry Cosby Jr shone shoes and worked at a local supermarket to help his family make ends meet.

His early life was touched by tragedy when one of his four brothers died and he, the oldest, became a father figure.

Accounts of his school years portray a joker and a storyteller who loved to entertain classmates. After school he joined the US Navy, then went to university and worked part-time as a bartender.

Filling in for a club comedian, he laid the path for his future fame.

His debut on NBC’s Tonight Show in 1963 led to a recording contract with Warner Brothers, and the release of a series of award-winning comedy albums.

On one of those, 1968’s To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With, he established the themes that would define his work – the father as a loving disciplinarian; siblings who could plot together one minute, then scream blue murder the next; and a confidence in the bonds of family.

The album sleeve noted: “During his time on stage, Cosby never once told a joke. He didn’t sing or dance or do tricks. All he did was talk” – but the performer had the 10,000-strong audience in the palm of his hand throughout.

By the time the album was released, Mr Cosby was already a TV star.

What boundaries did Cosby break as a black actor?

In 1965, he had become the first black actor to star in a drama series, when he was cast in the espionage show I Spy.

He played Alexander Scott, an undercover agent posing as a tennis instructor, alongside Robert Culp, who played fellow agent Kelly Robinson.

Premiering during a time of great upheaval for race relations in the US, it was banned by some stations in the southern states. But Cosby went on to earn three consecutive best actor Emmys for his role – a record that still stands.

Despite his prominence on TV, Mr Cosby made a conscious decision not to directly address race relations in his act – preferring a more subtle challenge to the status quo.

“A white person listens to my act, and he laughs, and he thinks: ‘Yeah, that’s the way I see it, too,'” he once said.

“OK. He’s white. I’m Negro. And we both see things the same way. That must mean that we are alike. Right? “So I figure this way, I’m doing as much for good race relations as the next guy.”

The Cosby Show, which was launched by NBC in 1984 and aired for eight seasons, was his biggest success and established him as a household name.

Based on his stand-up routines, Mr Cosby’s portrayal of an educated, affluent doctor – Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable – and the trials of raising five young children drew parallels with his own life.

His TV wife, Claire, was loosely based on his own wife Camille, whom he married in 1964.

The sitcom was watched by about 30 million viewers each week. By 1989, its star was earning $4m (£2.5m) a month in syndication rights alone.

When the show was cancelled in 1992, Mr Cosby embarked on a number of projects including film roles, but was never able to emulate the success of his star vehicle.

In 2013, he received rave reviews for his first TV stand-up show in 30 years, which led to a national tour.

But his comeback fell apart as several women came forward with allegations of sexual assault going back almost 30 years.

What were the allegations?

The accusations first surfaced in 2005, when Andrea Constand, a staff member at Cosby’s former university, said she had been drugged and molested by the star at his home a year earlier.

Prosecutors declined to press charges, citing lack of evidence, but Ms Constand filed a civil case against the comedian.

Due to statute of limitations law, Andrea Constand was the only alleged sex assault victim who could bring charges against Cosby.

Thirteen women, 12 of whom remained anonymous, agreed to be witnesses, each with a similar account of sexual assault.

Mr Cosby denied the accusations, which his lawyer called “preposterous”, and the case was settled out of court in 2006 for an undisclosed sum.

In subsequent years, some of Ms Constand’s fellow witnesses told their stories to the media. But the accusations were not comprehensively reported until Mr Cosby’s planned TV comeback thrust him back into the limelight.

More than 50 women accused the star of sexual assault or rape, but due to time limits on cases, only one – Andrea Constand – took the case to criminal court.

Mr Cosby’s lawyers consistently denied the charges, asking why the women had not made legal complaints at the time when they said they were assaulted.

In 2014 Mr Cosby said he had not addressed the allegations in public because “a guy doesn’t have to answer to innuendos”.

But shortly afterwards, previously unseen court papers from 2005 came to light and showed he had admitted obtaining sedatives to give to young women he wanted to have sex with. The sedatives, called Quaaludes, render people unable to move.

The accusations disrupted his hopes of a return to show business. Cable station TV Land pulled repeats of The Cosby Show, some of his stand-up shows were called off and protesters showed up to the ones that he still put on.

His statue was removed from the MGM Hollywood Studios park in Florida, and several colleges removed honorary degrees they had given him.

His portraits were taken down from the walls in his alma mater, Temple University in Philadelphia, and he resigned from the board of trustees.

What happened when the case came to criminal court?

At first, it appeared unlikely that any criminal action would be taken against Mr Cosby, partly because most US states have of statutes of limitation in cases of rape and sexual assault.

However, one case came to criminal trial – that of Andrea Constand.

The case was seen as one of the biggest US celebrity court case since the murder trial of former American football player OJ Simpson in 1995.

In June 2017, Ms Constand told her story in court for the first time, having previously been barred from doing so due to the 2006 settlement.

She said Mr Cosby had given her pills that he claimed were herbal and said would “take the edge off”, but which left her virtually paralysed.

“In my head, I was trying to get my hands to move or my legs to move, but I was frozen”, she said. About 20 minutes later, she said, he put his hand on her genitals.

“I wasn’t able to fight it in any way,” she told the court. “I wanted it to stop.”

Mr Cosby continued to deny the allegations. He did not give evidence in court but had one witness. In the end, with Mr Cosby possibly facing the rest of his life in prison if found guilty, the jury was deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared in June 2017.

How was the retrial different?

The retrial, which began on 9 April 2018, took place in a changed atmosphere.

A flood of sexual misconduct accusations against powerful men in the entertainment industry such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey had triggered the #MeToo movement.

The trial in Pennsylvania became one of the first celebrity cases of the #MeToo era. The decision by the judge to allow five more women to testify against him was seen as a key development.

On this occasion, the jury took two days to find the comedian guilty on all three counts of sexual assault. Months later, he was sentenced to a total of three to 10 years in prison.

Why was his conviction quashed?

After serving two years of the jail sentence, in June Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned his conviction for sexual assault. Hours later, Mr Cosby was driven away from the prison.

The court found that Mr Cosby had been denied due process and should not have been put on trial because he had reached an agreement with the previous prosecutor in 2005 that he would not be charged.

“He must be discharged, and any future prosecution on these particular charges must be barred”, it wrote in a 79-page ruling.

But despite the outcome, some legal analysts said Mr Cosby would not be able to go back to the life he knew before. His reputation would be “forever tarnished”, said defence lawyer Rikki Klieman of CBS News.

“He does not go back to being America’s Dad, everything that he lost in terms of the trappings of his life – his reputation, his TV jobs, his night club jobs, his being a spokesperson – all of that is gone.”

The post Bill Cosby: The rise, fall and release of ‘America’s Dad’ first appeared on BBC.

Tags: bill cosby
ShareTweetSendShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Bill Cosby released from prison as Court Overturns His Sex Assault Conviction

Next Post

Dollar Video: Ganduje Withdraws Suit Against Newspaper Publisher

Related Posts

Nigeria’s Accountant General Bags Indefinite Suspension Over N80bn Fraud

Nigeria’s Accountant General Bags Indefinite Suspension Over N80bn Fraud

May 18, 2022
Turkey Blocks Talks With Finland, Sweden On NATO Membership

Turkey Blocks Talks With Finland, Sweden On NATO Membership

May 18, 2022

Swedish And Finnish Embassies Face Backlash For Hoisting Gay Pride Flags In Zambia

African Local Content Stakeholders Advocate For More Home-Grown Technology Solution

Nigerian Businessman, Aliko Dangote Allegedly Broke, Unable To Complete Refinery By 2023 – Report

New Somali President Welcomes Return of US Troops

Next Post
Dollar Video: Ganduje Withdraws Suit Against Newspaper Publisher

Dollar Video: Ganduje Withdraws Suit Against Newspaper Publisher

Discussion about this post

Heritage Bank

Updates

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Nigeria: Rep Member Condemns Renewed Attack On Constituency By Suspected Fulani Herders

Nigeria: Rep Member Condemns Renewed Attack On Constituency By Suspected Fulani Herders

May 15, 2022
Nigeria: Students Stone Coursemate To Death In Sokoto College Of Education Over alleged Blasphemy

Nigeria: Students Stone Coursemate To Death In Sokoto College Of Education Over alleged Blasphemy

May 12, 2022
62-year-old African Reaches Peak Of Mount Everest

62-year-old African Reaches Peak Of Mount Everest

May 13, 2022
Presidential Abracadabra!

Presidential Abracadabra!

May 12, 2022
Mexico: Two Children, Others Killed In Gun Attack

More Than 100,000 People Officially Missing In Mexico

May 18, 2022
NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

May 18, 2022
Aubameyang Announces Retirement From International Football

Aubameyang Announces Retirement From International Football

May 18, 2022
Int’l Friendly: Mexico Boss Martino To Unveil Wolves’ Raul Jimenez Against Nigeria

Int’l Friendly: Mexico Boss Martino To Unveil Wolves’ Raul Jimenez Against Nigeria

May 18, 2022
NCDMB

Most Recent

More Than 100,000 People Officially Missing In Mexico

May 18, 2022

NiDCOM, FMBN Set To Launch Diaspora Housing Scheme

May 18, 2022

Aubameyang Announces Retirement From International Football

May 18, 2022

Int’l Friendly: Mexico Boss Martino To Unveil Wolves’ Raul Jimenez Against Nigeria

May 18, 2022

Nigeria’s Accountant General Bags Indefinite Suspension Over N80bn Fraud

May 18, 2022

Turkey Blocks Talks With Finland, Sweden On NATO Membership

May 18, 2022

2023: Niger Delta Ex Agitators Commend Sylva’s Move To Withdraw Presidential Ambition

May 18, 2022

Aribo, Bassey, Balogun Set To Break All-Time Record In Europa League Final With Rangers

May 18, 2022
HOUSE FORTY THREE RESTAURANT
MOSILO GROUP
ADVERTISEMENT

About

The Heritage Times was established to advance transparency and accountability in leadership and governance. Our vision is to become Africa's foremost provider of quality news and contents. We seek to lead a news media revolution that will foster a sustainable democratic Africa.

Featured

World Press Freedom Day: Where Do African Countries Rank?

2023 Elections: Simple Steps On How To Apply For Voters Card Online In Nigeria

#ReformIELTSPolicy: Group Presents More Evidence To Intensify Campaign For Nigeria’s IELTS Exemption

Connect

Connect with us on social media and receive timely updates on the go.

Get Updates

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    © 2022 The Heritage Times Media.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Welcome
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Security
    • Exposé
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Health
    • Entertainment
    • Legal
    • Technology and Science
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • World
    • __________________
    • Photo Speaks
    • Videos
    • You-Report
    • Whistleblower
    • Advertise
    • HT Events
    • About HT
    • Contact us

    © 2022 The Heritage Times Media.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In