Entertainer Bill Cosby, 80, was convicted of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand last week. He drugged and assaulted her in 2004. Five other women testified that he did the same thing to them back in the ’80s — proving it was Cosby’s pattern of conduct.
The Philadelphia Inquirer has extensive coverage of the Cosby case. Click this link:
And here’s a story from USA Today:
A complete list of the 60 Bill Cosby accusers and their reactions to the guilty verdict
I am now convinced that my personal experience with Bill Cosby was a near-miss. I was young and naive. But luckily, my guardian angels were looking out for me. I wrote about my experience when the story first broke — the story is reposted here:
My Bill Cosby Experience: Did I dodge a bullet?
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 White House Sub Shop, which was famous for its subs. 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.
Lovefraud originally posted this story on December 29, 2014.
A warning letter to the next victim from the third ‘psycho’ wife
You definitely dodged a bullet Donna. Notice how he pointed to you instead of any of the other executives. And of course he expected that you would wait there while he ordered the sub and drive him back. That was divine protection
Shiningstar – yes, I believe I was protected. I certainly didn’t know it at the time. For years I thought I was incredibly stupid, that I should have stayed. Now I am grateful.
Thank you for your comment.
Donna, your guardian angel was working overtime for you. Am embarrassed how I looked up to him growing up! Interestingly, my brother always thought he was a creep, but couldn’t put his finger on it. Really feel there is a special place in Hell for people like him!
Yes, you did “dodge a bullet”. He (cosby) was expecting you to go inside with him, order the subs and go somewhere (private most likely) and God only knows what next. I bet he was SHOCKED when you drove off and left him there. I can (now) think of several times, when I could have done that with the ex, in the early ‘love bombing’ spells. It would have shocked HIM. (and good riddance).
Whooo HOO! Yes you dodged a Bullet! You were PERFECT! (nervous laughter here) GOOD FOR YOU! many hugs!
Bill Crosby” is going to jail.
Radar Online is reporting.
“Justice has finally been served for disgraced felon Bill Cosby Opens a New Window. !
Fourteen years after he mercilessly drugged and sexually assaulted Temple University employee Andrea Constand, the shamed comic has been sentenced to “total confinement” for no less than three years and no more than ten in a Pennsylvania state prison, RadarOnline.com can report.
The 81-year-old fallen star was also fined $25,000, persecution and court costs, and forbidden from contacting Constand or her family.
“It is time for justice,” O’Neill told the court. “It is time for justice in a court of law. Mr. Cosby, this has all circled back to you. The day has come. Your time has come.”
The judge is currently deciding if Cosby should be remanded immediately, which prosecutor Kevin Steele demanded.
“No amount of bail,” Steele told the judge after his ruling. “This man is worth $400 million.”
Earlier today, O’Neill ruled Cosby is a “sexually violent predator” who must register with the Pennsylvania State Police fro the rest of his lifetime.
While Cosby’s long-suffering wife Camille remained home, Janice Dickinson Opens a New Window. and nearly 20 other women who have accused Cosby of assault packed the court to witness the end of the criminal’s nearly four-year legal saga.
On Monday, Cosby’s team unsuccessfully tried to argue their legally blind client wasn’t fit for incarceration.
“What does an 81-year-old man do in prison?” defense attorney Joseph Green asked the judge. “How does he fight off the people who are trying to extort him, or walk to the mess hall?”
Montgomery County District Attorney Steele, however, remained firm on his demand Cosby serve between 5 to 10 years in prison.
“Despite bullying tactics, despite PR teams and other folks trying to change the optics, as one lawyer for the defense put it, the bottom line is that nobody’s above the law. Nobody,” Steele insisted.
As Radar reported, Cosby faced up to 30 years behind bars for attacking Andrea Constand Opens a New Window. in 2004.
In a tell-all interview with NBC Opens a New Window. for Dateline, Constand, 45, detailed the events that finally led Cosby to incarceration. Opens a New Window.
“Three blue pills. And he put his hand out and I said, ‘What are those?’ And he said, ‘They’ll help you relax,’” Constand recalled. “And I said, ‘Are they natural? Are they, like, a herbal remedy?’ And he said, ‘No, they’re your friends. Just put them down.’”
“I trusted that they would maybe just help me feel a little more relaxed,” she continued.
But after a few minutes, she began to slur her words, and lost control of her body. It was then that Cosby assaulted her.
“I was crying out inside, in my throat, in my mind, for this to stop. And I couldn’t do anything,” Constand said.
A jury previously found Cosby guilty on three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault Opens a New Window. in the shocking case that finally took down the once-beloved actor.”
Hurrah. Justice.
This is a GREAT day for all women.
Cosby almost got away with it.
He is not sorry at all but rather thinks that he had every right, because he is a man and his victims were just women who should shut up and take it like women were intended to do.
Hopefully 3 to 10 means life for him.
The psychiatrist, after the trial, said that he is very likely to re offend because he has a penchant for young women. What a prize he is, huh? What that means is that he is a dangerous sexual predator and always has been.
He makes me absolutely ill.
Hi Bev, he did almost get away with it…WOW. He could have died and never been to trial or serve jail time. I’m guessing he will be out on “good behavior” less then a year & for “heath reason” whether he is sick or not. Sociopath always fake some health issues to suck you into their con game. To bad he was not brought to trial 50 years ago and sentenced to 50 years. However long is sentences now, I’m guessing his victims are happy he was exposed to the world for who he really is = a evil evil sociopath!!
Now that he is required to registerer as a “violent sex offender” this will hopefully keep young girls & woman away from him including young female family members. Bev, you are correct it makes me ill too. Sick would we live in where you have to be constantly vigilant to spot these pure pure evil none humans.
Excellent point Jan about the possibility that he may fake illness to get out early. Hopefully he will die in there before that happens.
Yes it’s really a shame that all of this hadn’t happened half a century ago.
Hi Bev, his mask will slip big time in prison & people will sell him out to the tabloids for all to hear how an evil sociopath really is in private. As they say, the truth always prevails, and now people will see what he is really like behind closed doors (angry, mean, manipulative, cunning etc). No doubt he is not a nice guy what so ever. So glad he is in jail tonight.
What a blessing for all those that he harmed…not the justice they were hoping for i.e. a very long sentence but at least now people realize that all of those women were telling the truth. That is a powerful moment for all victims.