Phylicia Rashad Addresses Cosby Allegations by Advising, “Forget These Women”

We wondered how long it would take for members of the famed Huxtable clan to finally break their silence and pick a side or remain neutral.

Keshia Knight-Pulliam who played the youngest sibling, Rudy was forced to express her thoughts after the fiasco that erupted with the premiere episode of The Celebrity Apprentice which showed her being grilled and subsequently banished for refusing to reach out to her former TV dad for help. Despite the fact that the episode was filmed a year ago, it is ironically timely. She played it safe with her response and basically told us what we already know.

Phylicia Rashad who elegantly embodied the role of Claire Huxtable almost to perfection wasn’t as diplomatic when asked for her take on the matter.

While attending a luncheon for the movie Selma in New York, Rashad was quick to dismiss the allegations being levied on her former costar and TV hubby. Speaking to Showbiz411 – the actress, who spent a healthy amount of time bouncing off of the genius of Bill Cosby, is convinced that there is a conspiracy surrounding the mounting accusations against the embattled comedian based on their frequency and timing. She also advised that the public should simply “forget these women”.

The basis of Rashad’s defense is rooted in her long time acquaintance with Cosby and the fact that she never witnessed anything in his demeanor that would lead her to believe that he was capable of the vile acts he is being accused of.

She goes on to tell Showbiz411 reporter Roger Friedman. “Forget these women”. “What you’re seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it’s orchestrated. I don’t know why or who’s doing it, but it’s the legacy. And it’s a legacy that is so important to the culture”.

Rashad ended the interview by acknowledging the accusations made by supermodels Beverly Johnson and Janice Dickinson with an “Oh please” reiterating her belief that “someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV”. “And it’s worked. All his contracts have been cancelled. …This show represented America to the outside world. This was the American family. And now you’re seeing it being destroyed. Why?’

Hmm…Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he might have drugged and raped an army of women for decades and is finally being forced to face the consequences of his actions?

It is understandably difficult for those who thought they knew Cosby best to internalize the likelihood that he might be guilty, and yes, the erasure of his vast legacy is quite tragic given the fact that he was an indelible piece in the pie of American culture and beyond but that absolutely doesn’t make him above the law.

Cosby has been dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct for most of his career but somehow managed to remain under the radar thanks to his capable handlers.

But now all bets are off and he basically has no choice but to face the music – in the meantime, it doesn’t help when influential women like Rashad publicly dismiss the brave women who choose to come forward with accounts of what happened to them. It sends a message that does a lot more harm than any of us can imagine.

In matters of rape – the victim is shamed beyond repair and whether or not we are clear about the details of their circumstance the basic level of respect is warranted regardless of personal convictions.