Content Warning: explicit accounts of sexual abuse*
Bill Cosby is an American actor, comedian, and author. In the past, he has been a well respected “father figure” and popular icon in the media. Some of his famous TV shows are “The Cosby Show”, “Little Bill” (which I personally grew up watching), and “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids”. He is a household name, which is why there was a huge uproar when sexual abuse accusations began to rise up against him.
He has been accused of drugging then sexually abusing Andrea Constand in 2004. According to the accusations, he urged Andrea Constand to take pills while drinking wine until she was unable to defend herself or even move. Once she was at that point, he committed sexual assault against her. It is obvious, even if Bill Cosby and Andrea Constand had a relationship of any sort with each other, that a person in that state is completely unable to give consent. Bill Cosby is currently facing a charge of aggravated indecent assault, which is a felony. He could face up to 10 years in prison and would become a registered sex offender. After this case blew up in the media, dozens (believed to be around 40) of other women came forward with more sexual abuse accusations against Bill Cosby. Those cases are still being processed and reviewed.
The Andrea Constand sexual assault case provides evidence “that is strong and sufficient” says Kevin Steele, Montgomery County’s district attorney elect. Bill Cosby and Andrea Constand’s stories do not align, Cosby claims that his sexual advances were welcomed by her. According to Andrea, Cosby had urged her to take pills, that he later claimed were Benadryl, telling her they would make her feel good. There is suspicion that the pills were quaaludes. Andrea claimed to have felt weakness in her legs, she said her legs felt “like jelly.” She also claimed to have suffered from blurred vision, difficulty speaking, nausea, and dizziness. Anyone else feel this way after taking Benadryl? Andrea said that when she woke up her sweater was bunched up and her bra was undone. In a transcript in the case, Cosby said that he did reach into Andrea’s pants and fondle her even though he had no consent from her. He said “I don’t hear her say anything. And I don’t feel her say anything. And so I continue and I go into the area that is somewhere between permission and rejection. I am not stopped”. That is in no ways consent. Do we need to have yet another talk about what consent is?
At the proceeding, Judge McHugh concluded after a short 15 minutes by saying “Good luck to you, sir” to Cosby. I don’t think he is lacking luck, but he is lacking respect for consent and lacking the basic moral values of a decent human being. Cosby is currently free on a $1 million bail.
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