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Bill Cosby and the women claiming a history of sexual assaults Bill Cosby and the women claiming a history of sexual assaults
(about 13 hours later)
On Tuesday Janice Dickinson became the latest woman to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual abuse, telling Entertainment Tonight that he sexually assaulted her in Lake Tahoe in 1982.On Tuesday Janice Dickinson became the latest woman to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual abuse, telling Entertainment Tonight that he sexually assaulted her in Lake Tahoe in 1982.
She is the fifth woman to put her name to accusations against the comedian that span nearly 40 years. She was among the seven women to put their names to accusations against the comedian that span nearly 40 years.
Netflix announced on Tuesday that it had decided not to broadcast a show commemorating Cosby’s 77th birthday, and NBC said on Wednesday that a new sitcom starring Cosby was no longer in development.Netflix announced on Tuesday that it had decided not to broadcast a show commemorating Cosby’s 77th birthday, and NBC said on Wednesday that a new sitcom starring Cosby was no longer in development.
Cosby has long denied the allegations, and recently has declined to comment on them. In a statement, Martin Singer, an attorney representing Cosby, called Dickinson’s claims “a fabricated lie”. Singer was not available when approached by the Guardian for further comment.Cosby has long denied the allegations, and recently has declined to comment on them. In a statement, Martin Singer, an attorney representing Cosby, called Dickinson’s claims “a fabricated lie”. Singer was not available when approached by the Guardian for further comment.
The first to come forward was:The first to come forward was:
Andrea Constand, a former college athlete and director of operations for Temple University women’s basketball team, who said that she had considered Cosby a “mentor” after meeting him in 2002.Andrea Constand, a former college athlete and director of operations for Temple University women’s basketball team, who said that she had considered Cosby a “mentor” after meeting him in 2002.
In January 2005 she went to the police to report an incident involving Cosby to police, saying that the comedian had drugged and assaulted her at his home in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, in January 2004. Constand is the only woman to date to seek criminal charges against Cosby.In January 2005 she went to the police to report an incident involving Cosby to police, saying that the comedian had drugged and assaulted her at his home in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, in January 2004. Constand is the only woman to date to seek criminal charges against Cosby.
Bruce Castor, who at the time was the district attorney of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, told NBC that at the time he did not believe he had enough evidence to convict – though he said later that he thought Cosby probably “did it”.Bruce Castor, who at the time was the district attorney of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, told NBC that at the time he did not believe he had enough evidence to convict – though he said later that he thought Cosby probably “did it”.
In March 2005 Constand filed a civil suit against Cosby. In the complaint Constand, who had moved to Pickering, Ontario, described going to see Cosby in January 2004 after he said he would give her assistance with her career. When she arrived he gave her some pills which he said were “herbal medication which would help her relax”, according to the suit.In March 2005 Constand filed a civil suit against Cosby. In the complaint Constand, who had moved to Pickering, Ontario, described going to see Cosby in January 2004 after he said he would give her assistance with her career. When she arrived he gave her some pills which he said were “herbal medication which would help her relax”, according to the suit.
Constand said that after taking the pills her knees began to shake, her limbs felt immobile and she felt dizzy, weak, and barely conscious. She said Cosby then led her to a sofa and sexually assaulted her, after which she lost consciousness. When she awoke several hours later, she said, she was sore and her clothes were in disarray.Constand said that after taking the pills her knees began to shake, her limbs felt immobile and she felt dizzy, weak, and barely conscious. She said Cosby then led her to a sofa and sexually assaulted her, after which she lost consciousness. When she awoke several hours later, she said, she was sore and her clothes were in disarray.
The suit was settled out of court in November 2006. A reported 13 unnamed “Jane Doe” witnesses to prior sexual assaults, as well as one named witness – Tamara Green – did not get the opportunity to testify in court.The suit was settled out of court in November 2006. A reported 13 unnamed “Jane Doe” witnesses to prior sexual assaults, as well as one named witness – Tamara Green – did not get the opportunity to testify in court.
Tamara Green, a lawyer in California, was the first of the witnesses to prior sexual assaults in the Constand civil suit and the only one who allowed herself to be named in the court documents.Tamara Green, a lawyer in California, was the first of the witnesses to prior sexual assaults in the Constand civil suit and the only one who allowed herself to be named in the court documents.
In February 2005 she spoke to NBC’s Matt Lauer on the Today show saying that in the 1970s Cosby drugged her with what she was told was cough medicine, then took her to her apartment and groped her.In February 2005 she spoke to NBC’s Matt Lauer on the Today show saying that in the 1970s Cosby drugged her with what she was told was cough medicine, then took her to her apartment and groped her.
She said that hearing Constand’s story, especially after the DA had said the story was weak, had prompted her to come forward. She told Lauer: “After all these years it’s the same MO, the same old story.”She said that hearing Constand’s story, especially after the DA had said the story was weak, had prompted her to come forward. She told Lauer: “After all these years it’s the same MO, the same old story.”
At the time, she said, “the first thing you feel is stupid, and then you feel that no one will believe you”.At the time, she said, “the first thing you feel is stupid, and then you feel that no one will believe you”.
Because Constand settled out of court, Green never took the witness stand.Because Constand settled out of court, Green never took the witness stand.
Beth Ferrier, one of the anonymous “Jane Doe” witnesses in the Constand suit, came forward in June 2005 – while the suit was ongoing – about an alleged event that had happened in Denver, Colorado, in the 1980s.Beth Ferrier, one of the anonymous “Jane Doe” witnesses in the Constand suit, came forward in June 2005 – while the suit was ongoing – about an alleged event that had happened in Denver, Colorado, in the 1980s.
Ferrier, a model, who had just ended a relationship with Cosby, told the Philadelphia Daily News that he made her a coffee, reportedly saying it was “something I made to relax you”. Soon after drinking it she said she began to feel woozy.Ferrier, a model, who had just ended a relationship with Cosby, told the Philadelphia Daily News that he made her a coffee, reportedly saying it was “something I made to relax you”. Soon after drinking it she said she began to feel woozy.
“I woke up and I was in the back of my car all alone,” she said. “My clothes were a mess. My bra was undone. My top was untucked. And I’m sitting there going ‘Oh my god. Where am I?’”“I woke up and I was in the back of my car all alone,” she said. “My clothes were a mess. My bra was undone. My top was untucked. And I’m sitting there going ‘Oh my god. Where am I?’”
Barbara Bowman, an aspiring actress, was another of the “Jane Doe” witnesses in the Constand suit and expressed frustration that the suit was settled before she had the chance to testify.Barbara Bowman, an aspiring actress, was another of the “Jane Doe” witnesses in the Constand suit and expressed frustration that the suit was settled before she had the chance to testify.
Bowman says she met Cosby in Denver, Colorado, in 1985, when she was 17, and that she maintained a prolonged relationship with him. She told the Daily Mail in an October 2014 interview that Cosby manipulated her into believing he was a father figure and took advantage of her youth and vulnerability.Bowman says she met Cosby in Denver, Colorado, in 1985, when she was 17, and that she maintained a prolonged relationship with him. She told the Daily Mail in an October 2014 interview that Cosby manipulated her into believing he was a father figure and took advantage of her youth and vulnerability.
She said that the comedian sexually abused her on multiple occasions, including once in New York when he gave her a glass of wine that she said she was “certain” was drugged.She said that the comedian sexually abused her on multiple occasions, including once in New York when he gave her a glass of wine that she said she was “certain” was drugged.
In an article she wrote for the Washington Post on 13 November 2014 she said the final incident was in Atlantic City, where Cosby “pinned me down in his own bed while I screamed for help”.In an article she wrote for the Washington Post on 13 November 2014 she said the final incident was in Atlantic City, where Cosby “pinned me down in his own bed while I screamed for help”.
Joan Tarshish came forward on 17 November 2014 saying that Cosby drugged her and sexually abused her on two separate occasions. She told CNN’s Don Lemon that in 1969, when she was 19, Cosby made her a drink. “Shortly after that I passed out,” she said, “I woke up … with him removing my underwear.”Joan Tarshish came forward on 17 November 2014 saying that Cosby drugged her and sexually abused her on two separate occasions. She told CNN’s Don Lemon that in 1969, when she was 19, Cosby made her a drink. “Shortly after that I passed out,” she said, “I woke up … with him removing my underwear.”
She said that she had not come forward earlier because she felt shame and guilt about the incident, and told Lemon that she had thought she would not be believed. “Who’s going to believe me? Bill Cosby, the all-American dad, the all-American husband, Mr Jell-o that everybody loves. Who would believe me?” she said.She said that she had not come forward earlier because she felt shame and guilt about the incident, and told Lemon that she had thought she would not be believed. “Who’s going to believe me? Bill Cosby, the all-American dad, the all-American husband, Mr Jell-o that everybody loves. Who would believe me?” she said.
Lemon has come under fire for asking Tarshish on air why she didn’t bite Cosby’s penis.Lemon has come under fire for asking Tarshish on air why she didn’t bite Cosby’s penis.
Janice Dickinson, a supermodel and TV star, came forward on 18 November 2014, telling Entertainment Tonight that Cosby had drugged and sexually assaulted her in Lake Tahoe in 1982.Janice Dickinson, a supermodel and TV star, came forward on 18 November 2014, telling Entertainment Tonight that Cosby had drugged and sexually assaulted her in Lake Tahoe in 1982.
She said in the interview that he gave her a glass of red wine and a pill, and that “the next morning I woke up, and I wasn’t wearing my pajamas, and I remember before I passed out that I had been sexually assaulted”. She said the last thing she remembered was Cosby “dropping his robe and getting on top of me”.She said in the interview that he gave her a glass of red wine and a pill, and that “the next morning I woke up, and I wasn’t wearing my pajamas, and I remember before I passed out that I had been sexually assaulted”. She said the last thing she remembered was Cosby “dropping his robe and getting on top of me”.
Asked by the interviewer what she would say to Cosby now, she said that she would tell him: “Go fuck yourself. How dare you take advantage of me. And I hope you rot.”Asked by the interviewer what she would say to Cosby now, she said that she would tell him: “Go fuck yourself. How dare you take advantage of me. And I hope you rot.”
Martin Singer, an attorney representing Cosby, sent a letter to Buzzfeed on Tuesday after they published a story about Dickinson’s claims. In it he said: “That story is fabricated and an outrageous defamatory lie”.Martin Singer, an attorney representing Cosby, sent a letter to Buzzfeed on Tuesday after they published a story about Dickinson’s claims. In it he said: “That story is fabricated and an outrageous defamatory lie”.
Therese Serignese came forward on November 19 to WBTV in West Palm Beach, Florida. In the interview, she said that Cosby had invited her to watch his show in Las Vegas in 1976, when she was 19. At the end of the after-party, she said, he handed her three large white pills and told her to take them.
She was another Jane Doe witness in the Constand case.
She said she felt she couldn’t say no, because he was an authority figure. “My next memory is feeling drugged and him having sex with me.”
Serignese said that she stayed with Cosby for several weeks in his penthouse suite, but he asked her to leave when she had a pregnancy scare, which turned out to be a false alarm. Later, in the mid-90s she reached out to Cosby for money, and he sent her $15,000 in two lump sums.