David Letterman Cancels Bill Cosby Appearance, Amidst Sexual Assault Claims

It’s been a tough 30 days for Bill Cosby. The legendary comedian’s recent appearance on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” has been canceled amid a growing uproar over allegations that he sexually assaulted several women in past decades.

According to the Associated Press, Cosby representative David Brokaw confirmed Friday night that Cosby would not appear as previously scheduled next Wednesday.

Late last month, the 77-year-old did not appear for his booking, on “The Queen Latifah Show” — it was reported as postponement granted at Cosby’s request.

So what are the specifics of the allegations? A woman named Barbara Bowman has recently shared allegations of sexual assault by the comic in interviews and in a Washington Post online column, writing that

Cosby won my trust as a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985, brainwashed me into viewing him as a father figure, and then assaulted me multiple times.

She continued:

Over the years, I’ve struggled to get people to take my story seriously. So last month, when reporter Lycia Naff contacted me for an interview for the Daily Mail, I gave her a detailed account. I told her how Cosby won my trust as a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985, brainwashed me into viewing him as a father figure, and then assaulted me multiple times. In one case, I blacked out after having dinner and one glass of wine at his New York City brownstone, where he had offered to mentor me and discuss the entertainment industry. When I came to, I was in my panties and a man’s t-shirt, and Cosby was looming over me. I’m certain now that he drugged and raped me. But as a teenager, I tried to convince myself I had imagined it. I even tried to rationalize it: Bill Cosby was going to make me a star and this was part of the deal. The final incident was in Atlantic City, where we had traveled for an industry event. I was staying in a separate bedroom of Cosby’s hotel suite, but he pinned me down in his own bed while I screamed for help. I’ll never forget the clinking of his belt buckle as he struggled to pull his pants off. I furiously tried to wrestle from his grasp until he eventually gave up, angrily called me “a baby” and sent me home to Denver.

Recently, standup comedian Hannibal Buress referenced Cosby’s sexual assault allegations, during his Philadelphia performance. During his routine, he referred to Cosby as “a rapist”, gaining wide exposure. See the clip.

Reportedly, who was never criminally charged in any of the cases, settled a civil suit in 2006 with another woman over an alleged incident two years before. Cosby has declined to comment on the recent resurgence of allegations. [Page Six, Washington Post, Associated Press]

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