Ahead of Showtime and comedian/TV host W. Kamau Bell’s tell-all documentary series on Bill Cosby, the 84-year-old’s representative is attempting to defend his legacy.
Andrew Wyatt addressed We Need to Talk About Cosby—premiering this Sunday, Jan. 30—in a statement shared with People. Characterizing Bell as a “PR hack,” he describes Cosby as someone who stood with “women and men who were denied respectful work” throughout his 50-year career.
“Let’s talk about Bill Cosby,” the statement opens. “Mr. Cosby has spent more than 50 years standing with the excluded; made it possible for some to be included; standing with the disenfranchised; and standing with those women and men who were denied respectful work…because of race and gender…within the expanses of the entertainment industries.”
Andrea Constand accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her in his Elkins Park, Pennsylvania home in 2004. In 2018, Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault. He was sentenced to three-to-10 years for the crime. Over the decades—particularly amid and since New York magazine’s 2015 cover story—over 60 women have made similar accusations against Cosby.
The statement on We Need to Talk About Cosby continues by trying to assert that the allegations against Cosby have never been proven. “Mr. Cosby continues to be the target of numerous media that have, for too many years, distorted and omitted truths…intentionally. Despite media’s repetitive reports of allegations against Mr. Cosby, none have ever been proven in any court of law.”
The rep pointed out that the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court released Cosby in June 2021. The Cosby Show star was released on account of a “due process violation” because the district attorney broke an agreement with him not to use a confession in court. After the spokesperson addressed this and claimed Cosby was innocent because of this process violation, the statement concludes by asking for “democracy” regarding his public perception. “Mr. Cosby vehemently denies all allegations waged against him. Let’s talk about Bill Cosby. He wants our nation to be what it proclaims itself to be: a democracy.”
The first part of W. Kamau Bell’s We Need to Talk About Cosby five-part documentary series premieres on Showtime on Jan. 30 and features comedians, entertainers, and accusersdiscussing Cosby, his legacy, and the reprehensible nature of his crimes. The project screened at the Sundance Film Festival last week.
