A Lovefraud reader asked me to write about the Bill Cosby scandal. A total of 27 women have publicly come forward to tell their stories of being sexually assaulted by the famous comedian.
A complete list of the women who have accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault, on Slate.com.
As I read the accounts, I kept seeing virtually the same story, over and over.
Many of the women were young models and actresses who claim Cosby made a pretense of offering them career advice. One woman, however, was a 19-year-old waitress who said Cosby offered her a ride home and then assaulted her. Another woman was 19 when Cosby approached her in a gift shop at the Las Vegas Hilton, where he was performing, and invited her backstage. She says she was drugged, and woke up to find him having sex with her in the green room bathroom.
At this point the shocking realization hit me: This could have happened to me.
Atlantic City Magazine
From 1978 through 1982 I was editor of Atlantic City Magazine. It was my first job out of college.
The job sounds more prestigious than it was. Casino gambling had just become legal in New Jersey, and Atlantic City’s first casino opened a few weeks after I graduated from college. Atlantic City Magazine was a startup publication. I was not only the first editor; I was the first employee.
I had majored in magazine journalism in college, and founded a campus magazine. But I think the prime reason I got the job in Atlantic City was because I was in the right place at the right time.
Arranging the Cosby interview
Atlantic City Magazine frequently published interviews with the headline entertainers who performed at the casinos. Sometime around 1980, when I was 24 years old, Bill Cosby, who regularly appeared in Atlantic City, agreed to be interviewed.
I needed to finalize the time and place where our writer would meet the comedian. But Cosby wasn’t available — he was playing tennis with a casino executive. So in this era before cell phones, I drove over to the indoor tennis courts.
After making the arrangements with a casino PR person, I, along with a few others, watched Cosby play tennis.
As the game was coming to an end, Cosby announced that he wanted to go to the famous White House Sub Shop. But he didn’t have a car. So as the casino folks were trying to figure out how to get him to the sub shop, Cosby pointed at me and said, “She’ll take me.”
Driving Bill Cosby
I was astounded. Everybody looked at me, and I said I could take him.
So, when Cosby finished playing tennis, we got into my car. The car was something plain and white that Atlantic City Magazine rented for me — certainly not what I assume the TV star was accustomed to driving in.
I was star struck. During the 15 minutes that it took to drive from the tennis courts to the sub shop, I tried to engage Cosby in conversation. He didn’t say much. But he did spit out the window.
When we arrived at the sub shop, I stopped the car, let him out and drove away.
It never occurred to me to go in with him, be a groupie, order subs, or make sure he got back to the casino. That’s how naive I was.
Dodged a bullet
Later, realizing that I’d let an opportunity to make an important connection slip through my fingers, I berated myself for my stupidity.
But now, after reading the accounts of all the young women who claim that Cosby assaulted them, I can’t help but wonder if the same thing could have happened to me.
Maybe Cosby assumed that I’d go into the White House with him, and drive him back to the casino. Then, perhaps he would have invited me backstage. I know I would not have questioned his intentions. I didn’t understand then that rich, famous, powerful men took advantage of young women.
Had Bill Cosby done the same thing to me that he allegedly did to all those other young women, I know one thing. I would have been severely traumatized.
So perhaps I was lucky that I drove away.
More info:
Everything you need to know about the Bill Cosby scandal, on Time.com
Bill Cosby’s legacy, recast: Accusers speak in detail about sexual assault allegations, on WashingtonPost.com.
I was chewed up and spit out in a ‘classic’ manner and at record speed
The Nationalenquirer.com (I know it’s a tabloid but it pretty much says what Cosby really is) yesterday reported:
“SOCIOPATH BILL COSBY DOESN’T SEE HIS ACTIONS AS RAPE, Say Experts”
“He’s confessed to using date rape drugs to “seduce” helpless women ”“ but top psychological experts have told The National Enquirer that Bill Cosby remains a “guiltless narcissist,” with the disgraced comic still in “SOCIOPATHIC DENIAL” about his sex crimes!
“I hate to use the word ’psychopath,’” said Dr. Mark Goulston, who has not treated the alleged sex fiend, “BUT PSYCHOPATHS DO WHATEVER THEY WANT ”“ and feel their actions are above the law!”
The battery of experts consulted by The Enquirer all agree that Cosby’s actions are consistent with a wide range of DEEP AND DANGEROUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS!
“He likely doesn’t see (his) actions as rape,” said Dr. Sanam Hafeez, who also hasn’t treated Cosby. “He has been exposed as a grandiose and narcissistic man who thinks he’s entitled to sleep with any woman he wants to. His ego will not allow him to take ’no’ for an answer.”
As The Enquirer previously reported, many of the nearly 100 women who claimed they were molested by Cosby talked about how he enjoyed his control over the helpless victims after drugging them.
“He gloated over my humiliation,” said Linda Ridgeway Whitedeer. “He had planned it.”
That sick behavior is common among criminal predators, according to the experts.
“Men who commit these kinds of crimes use sex as a way to gain power and control over women,” said Dr. Rachel Needle, who also has not treated Cosby.
Though Cosby admitted in a 2005”“2006 deposition that he used drugs on his victims, he rationalized the twisted act by describing his actions as “setting a romantic atmosphere.”
“HE IS GRANDIOSE, NARCISSISTIC AND A SOCIOPATH,” said Dr. Hafeez. “He sees these women as conquests, and conveniently excludes the memory of what he had to do to ’conquer’ them!”
The use of drugs also indicates a disturbing sense of inadequacy in the accused sex monster, added the experts.”
BTY, the caps are mine.
Knownow, WOW…finally someone is speaking the truth about Cosby’s disorder…I hope that all his victims (including his wife) will see this in the checkout stand which will leaded them to search more on sociopaths and lead them to Lovefraud.
You can never rule out the National Enquirer….not that I am a fan of such magazines but they were the first to report that John Edwards and a mistress WHILE he was running for Presidents. From there all the press picked up the story which turned out to be true after all.
Jan7”. I don’t buy tabloids myself but the Enquirer years ago tried to publish the truth about Cosby only to have him use his wealth, power, and influence to quash the stories. Prime example was when the Enquirer wanted to publish a story by one his victims (I forget which one, so many!) and instead agreed to his request not to publish it in exchange for his own story about his daughter’s drug use. Talk about betrayal and throwing his own daughter under the bus to save his own skin!
I’m hoping his wife will finally see him for what he is following his upcoming deposition and how he drugged and raped a 15 year old. Also, he started his sick sexual predatory activities a year into their marriage and continued it on a regular basis for the next 50 years!
Since meeting with the LAPD back in January, Chloe Goins is speaking out for the first time about her sexual assault by Bill Cosby, along with other victims, on tomorrow’s DR. PHIL SHOW.
Goins case is important as hers is the only one falling within the statute of limitations (2008) and can be tried in a criminal court. It’s also important as it is well within Cosby’s memory.
I say that because I anticipate he’ll claim during the upcoming deposition (Oct. 9) on behalf of Judy Huff by Gloria Allred that “he doesn’t recall” or “he can’t remember” or “it was so long ago” thus evading in his typical Cosby way any direct or honest answers under oath.
Huff’s case is important also because she was a minor (age 15) at the time of her assault which legally qualifies as child sexual assault. However, it was 41 years ago and wonder what kind of evidence can be presented at this point.
Anyway I look forward to his upcoming deposition which hopefully will further publicly expose Cosby as the evil monster for which he is. GO GLORIA!!
Dr. Phil about him on right now.
Sorry to say Dr Phil added nothing to the ongoing Bill Cosby scandal. I’ve heard Dr Phil was the new Jerry Springer. Mebbie not that bad but it did seem so tabloid to me… and merely a repeat of what has already been said. More victims, same ol M.O. where Bill uses drugs to render women so they are incapable of protecting themselves. I think Bill’s gonna get away with all these crimes but he’s not going avoid being outed for the monster that he is.
ps Damon Wayans is divorced. Am not surprised. What a dumb shill for Bill. Damon must be hard up for attention.
pps It was the New York magazine cover that has been the most powerful exposure.
NWHSOM .. Dr. Phil added nothing to what WE already know, that is to those of us closely following Cosby’s sociopathic criminal sexual assaults, but he does have a HUGE following and maybe, just maybe, someone saw Cosby today for what he is and is not. When one of the victims described, albeit watered down for TV, how Cosby ejaculated in her face the camera panned to a female audience member who looked incredulous, disgusted and quietly mouthed something. Obviously that woman did not know anything of the absolute evil of this man and what he inflicted on his victims. So I give Dr. Phil that much.
I just wish Dr. Phil would get a psychiatrist on his show who would call Cosby out for what he is..a serial rapist sociopath. But none of his “expert guests” want to go there for fear of being sued for slander by the Cosby army of lawyers. But Dr. Phil could have a show with the topic of sociopathic, psychopathic behaviors without being specific to any one person.
He may get away with his crimes but he’s been outed, will never perform again, will be spending a fortune in fighting off lawsuits and the public knows it now. Glad all this came to light before his death otherwise it would’ve been covered up and he’d go to his grave still revered by the unknowing public and remain forever on his pedestal.
knownow
I am so blind sometimes!
You make an EXCELLENT point.
I was thinking “here’s another sociopath, getting away with it all.”
But… as you say, SOME are just now realizing what Bill is.
FURTHERMORE!!!… Maybe when they run into this type of sociopath, that self entitled, people are what the sociopath defines them to be, invincible dominating humiliating SOCIOPATH, maybe someone will have LEARNED that these monsters really DO exist and it helps them, or a friend, or a family member. Because I KNOW my ex got away with so much because people didn’t believe someone who was so personable and softspoken and seemingly caring about me was JUST PRETENDING, was JUST living an IMAGE.
As you write, Bill’s been outed. and in so doing, maybe woke some people up so that people might question that OTHER sociopaths exist too!
Ya never know… further good may come from this after all.
NotWhatHeSaidofMe,
I had blocked out the whole BC thing because..well I don’t know.
I know a snippet of what going on and watched a small portion of it.
My daughter stopped by and shut it off.
I just can’t go there in my head right now.
Sickening.
My question to everyone is are there more of these people or because of the intrawebs outed more.
Who knows.
I am just grateful for this site where I can vent and connect.
SITC
StrongInTheCity
I think what you write makes perfect sense. When you already have way too much drama on yer plate because you are battling the aftermath (hope it’s after and not in the middle of) of a sociopath nightmare, you just don’t have the reserves to deal with any thing more. First escape, then survival, then recovery/healing, then rebuilding. It’s a long process. THEN, and ONLY then, you will have the emotional reserves to take out outside battles.
And yes, I do think there are more because that’s the world we live in. But also, there are those who are empowered and say NO MORE, as well. The internet has given people support and a voice when before, people were isolated, and as my therapist told me, not that long ago, victims were as likely to commit suicide as survive. THAT we now have a place to reach out to for help? THAT is a HUGE improvement.
Remember what those flight attendants tell you: In order to save others, ya have to put yer own mask on FIRST.
For those of you who missed Dr. Phil today it can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ6hc0ykwjA
I think Dr. Phil did a lot just by having these women on his show, and I believe he implied through his comments and questions – and just by airing the show – that he believes in Cosby’s guilt. The women speak for themselves. I don’t watch T.V. so I’m not a fan one way or the other of Dr. Phil, but I’m guessing that once Cosby is convicted of his crimes(hopefully), Dr. Phil will be more vocal. I knows he knows what sociopaths are. He is probably walking a very fine line in what he can say on national television before Cosby is found guilty.
The stories are truly horrifying and disgusting, but the worst part is the trauma it caused the victims. Dr. Phil was correct in saying that it doesn’t go away without help.
NotWhatHeSaidofMe,
It’s aftermath, thank goodness.
He moved to another state far, far away.
OMG, what your therapist said about victims committing suicide.
That is so sad.
I think that’s why I stay on here.
If I can help and/or support one woman that is going through this it may be one woman that was on the verge because as we know these people are capable of anything.
XOXO,
Stronginthecity
Another educational institution distances itself from sociopath Bill Cosby:
“HISTORICALLY BLACK OHIO UNIVERSITY STRIPS BILL COSBY’S NAME FROM COMMUNICATIONS BUILDING” reports Foxnews.com
WILBERFORCE, Ohio ”“ “A historically black college in southwest Ohio says it is permanently removing the name of comedian Bill Cosby from its communications building.
In a statement Friday, Central State University in Wilberforce says the Camille O. & William H. Cosby Communications Center has been renamed the CSU Communications Center. The school had been temporarily covering Cosby’s name since July while it made a final decision.
The Cosby family has donated more than $2 million to the university.
Cosby has been the target of sexual assault allegations by dozens of women. He has acknowledged that he obtained quaaludes with the intent of giving them to women before sex.
Central State President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond had called circumstances surrounding the comedian’s situation “troublesome and disappointing to all.”
Even Camille is on the s*** list. So Bill, why don’t you give them another $10 million and they might put the plaque back up!
Bill Cosby may actually be prosecuted in Pennsylvania. The statute of limitations has not run out.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150913_Pa__Cosby_case_may_be_legally_viable_still.html
Thanks for posting Donna & Knownow.
I just don’t see a prosecutor wanting to put themselves out there on a court case like this one. The media will turn everything into a circus which sadly seems to always work in the favor of the defendants case (Michael Jackson & Casey Anthony).
Let’s hope this proctor will do the right thing and go forward to the Grand Jury although there might not be enough time for them to present the case to a GJ there is enough evidence now with all of these witness coming forward.
From the net:
“A&E will be giving a network outlet to the women who have come out to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault, with one-hour special “Cosby: The Women Speak” set to air this Thursday on the channel, it announced Monday.
The cabler promises intimate interviews with the accusers, detailing Cosby’s rise to fame and his recent, rapid professional decline after sexual assault allegations re-surfaced. New and past accusers will appear on the special to tell their stories.
The special will include interviews with more than one dozen women, including actress Louisa Moritz, publicist Joan Tarshis and model Beverly Johnson.
“I think a lie always sees the light,” says Johnson in a 30-second preview A&E released Monday.
More than 50 women have now come forward with accusations against Cosby of sexual assault throughout the decades. The accusations saw little action until last year, when comedian Hannibal Buress brought them up in a stand-up bit, shining a new light on the allegations and causing more women to speak out.
The Cosby special is produced for A&E by Lincoln Square Productions. Jeanmarie Condon serves as senior executive producer and Jim Hill Senior serves as executive producer for Lincoln Square Productions. Executive producers for A&E are Shelly Tatro and Brad Abramson.
“Cosby: The Women Speak” will air on A&E at 9 p.m. on Thursday on A&E.”
I don’t get cable. Hope it will be on youtube.