Bill Cosby Is Free; Emotions Run High

Bill Cosby is free and the news has tensions and emotions flaring across the country.

Top News Today
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court surprised everyone by overturning the 2018 conviction for sexual assault of Bill Cosby after he was charged with the drugging and date rape of Andrea Constand.  In fact, more than 50 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault and of being a deranged sexual predator over decades.

The 83-year-old Cosby, who was once known as “America’s Dad” and a beloved television figure, served 3 years of a 10-year sentence at a maximum-security prison outside Philadelphia prior to his Wednesday release. The court ruled that a “non-prosecution agreement” with a previous prosecutor should have prevented him from ever being convicted. Or, in other words, he was released on a technicality.

Cosby looked frail and weak as he left prison and headed for his home in suburban Philadelphia to “take a bath and a nap.” However, once the news became public that Bill Cosby is free, all hell broke loose from coast to coast.

Women and men everywhere derided the decision as a slap in the face to women, particularly in this era of the #MeToo movement.  Additionally, Ms. Constand came forward and said in a statement that the court’s ruling was “not only disappointing but of concern in that it may discourage those who seek justice for sexual assault in the criminal justice system from reporting or participating in the prosecution of the assailant, or may force a victim to choose between filing either a criminal or civil action.”

However, it was actress Phylicia Rashad, who played Cosby’s wife, Claire Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” who caused a tidal wave of emotion across social media for a comment that many considered to be tone-deaf and insensitive.

“FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!” Rashad tweeted upon hearing that Bill Cosby is free.  Needless to say, the backlash against her was instant.
.

FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected! pic.twitter.com/NrGUdwr23c

— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021

.
“You can’t support survivors of physical assault and then cheer when a sexual predator gets off on a technicality. Very disappointing,” one Twitter user wrote.

“You told 60 survivors of sexual assault that their pain didn’t matter by cheering the fact that their attacker was freed on a technicality. You chose to add to their pain today. That’s not support or wishing them healing,” tweeted another user.

“I hope the Cosby Show residual checks are worth what is left of your dignity,” said another Twitter user, prompting Rashad to turn off the option to comment on her Twitter page.

Soon thereafter, Rashad recognized that her words had caused more angst and realized that she probably should have remained silent as she has done all these years regarding the Cosby case.

“I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward,” the 73-year-old actress attempted to clean up via Twitter. “My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth.”

Regrettably, her 2nd tweet did nothing to stop the bleeding and social media continued to roast her callousness all night.

Now that Bill Cosby is free, some expected him to be remorseful and to recant his “I didn’t do it” plea — particularly since the statute of limitations now prevents any of the dozens of other female accusers from filing a new claim against him.  However, Cosby was steadfast and maintained his innocence.

“I have never changed my stance nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence,” Bill Cosby said in a statement. “Thank you to all my fans, supporters and friends who stood by me through this ordeal. Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law.”

OK WASSUP! discusses the Top News Today:
Bill Cosby is free; Social media is going berserk.