BILL Cosby's future in Hollywood is "up in the air" following his release from prison after his charges were dropped as "no one is going to work with him."
One talent agent told Variety, “No one is going to work with him. No studio. No A-list actor or filmmaker."
“It would kill your reputation. Not to mention that you’d have to justify it to your friends and family. How could you do that? He is toxic.”
Cosby has served more than two years of a three to 10-year sentence at a state prison near Philadelphia before he was released on June 30, 2021.
The 83-year-old Cosby, who was once beloved as "America’s Dad," was convicted of drugging and molesting a Temple University employee at his suburban estate.
Read our Bill Cosby live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Julia Fields
COSBY WAS ASLEEP IN HIS CELL WHEN HE GOT THE NEWS
It was revealed on Thursday that Cosby was asleep in his cell at SCI Phoenix in Collegeville when a guard came to tell him he would be released.
“What are you talking about?” he reportedly asked.
- Julia Fields
COSBY COULD BE PLANNING TO SUE PRISON SYSTEM
The disgraced TV star was reportedly making plans as he and Camille consider taking a lawsuit against Montgomery County angered by the three years he spent incarcerated for the now-void sentence.
According to TMZ, the legal team is thinking of suing for abuse of process over the aggravated indecent assault conviction.
Abuse of process refers to the improper use of a civil or criminal legal process for unintended, malicious, or perverse reasons.
Cosby and his team could argue that the legal system was improperly used by the prosecutor who filed charges against him despite the comedian having a prior deal with a former District Attorney.
- Julia Fields
'SUPERHUMAN LEVEL OF STRENGTH AND COURAGE'
Bloom added that her clients and victim, Andrea Constand, who accused Cosby of assault and rape were "so dignified, so strong, answering every demeaning question."
"The conviction," Bloom went on. "We couldn't believe it: justice, a tiny bit, finally. And now this: a kick in the gut to victims and their advocates."
"Every day I fight for sexual assault victims and have to advise them of the ugly truth: the system still massively favors the rich and powerful," she said.
"You need a superhuman level of strength and courage," Bloom continued. "Luckily many victims have it. Any other Cosby victims, time to come forward."
- Julia Fields
COSBY ACCUSER 'DISGUSTED' BY RELEASE
The supermodel's attorney, Lisa Bloom, said that Dickinson and two other accusers she represents were in shock now that Cosby was released.
"The three Bill Cosby accusers I represent and I are disgusted that he is a free man today. He is not released because he is innocent," she said.
"He is released because a prosecutor promised him years ago that he would not be brought to justice, without even making a deal for him to do time," she continued.
"I will never forget my client Janice Dickinson's brave decision to testify as a 'prior bad acts' witness in Cosby's 2018 criminal trial," Bloom added of her client.
- Katie Balevic
VICTIMS SPEAK OUT: EDEN TIRL
Eden Tirl said she "endured a terrifying week of grooming and abuse" by Cosby in 1989. She said she was "locked in his dressing room" after he whispered to her about "making love."
“I just had my breath taken away. I’m shocked. I assumed that he would at least serve three years. I’m a little gobsmacked," she told the Washington Post.
Finally, perhaps, people will pay attention to this very, very important story. The #MeToo movement kind of left us behind.
“Cosby never would have been able to do what he did if celebrities weren’t valued so much in our society.”
- Katie Balevic
VICTIMS SPEAK OUT: JANICE BAKER-KINNEY
Janice Baker-Kinney said Cosby raped her in 1982 after giving her two pills that caused her to go unconscious.
“He’s a decrepit, sick, vile old man. I hope he burns in the hottest place in hell," she told the Washington Post.
“[After testifying] I felt some new power. I felt empowered. I felt like it was my duty to support other people in the same situation.
“Now I have to figure out how to deal with the backlash.
“I got a heart emoji from Andrea [Constand, the former Temple University women’s basketball official whose account of being drugged and sexually assaulted by Cosby prompted the charges that led to his conviction in 2018.]”
- Katie Balevic
VICTIMS SPEAK OUT: PATRICIA STEUER
Patricia Steuer said she woke up naked after being drugged by Cosby in 1978 and 1980.
"There were more than 63 of us who came forward in the end," she told CNN.
“I’m wondering what the purpose was of the 43 years of this ordeal and the trauma that I had and the trauma that my family endured as a result.
"I'm comforted that we did the best we could because we came forward and told the truth. In the end that was the only power we had in this situation."
- Katie Balevic
VICTIMS SPEAK OUT: STACEY PINKERTON
Stacey Pinkerton said she was drugged and raped by Cosby in the 1980s when she was a flight attendant.
She told the Post:
“I’m not going to stay silent. I’m going to get people — men and women — who are victims of sexual assault to use their voices.
“The facts don’t change. The conclusion is that the jury reached the conclusion that he is a sexually violent predator. I don’t think this is going to change the facts or the opinion of him. He can’t use this as if he’s innocent. The jury found him guilty.
“The thing is that, over and over, time after time, people are silenced about these violent acts by sexual predators.
“There was some form of justice we felt having him in prison, and now that’s not the case.
“I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight."
- Katie Balevic
VICTIMS SPEAK OUT: LILI BERNARD
Lili Bernard said Cosby drugged and raped her in the 1990s after she was on The Cosby Show.
“I can’t stop crying. I’m crying my eyes out. I’m very stunned and saddened," she told the Washington Post.
- Katie Balevic
VICTIMS SPEAK OUT: HELEN HAYES
Helen Hayes, 86, told the Washington Post that Cosby groped her while she was working at a restaurant in 1973.
“I heard it on Channel 5, CBS. They said Cosby’s out of prison. I said, ‘Did he commit suicide?’ That was my hope.
“It’s so awful and so shocking. He is so evil. It’s just unbelievable it’s happening. I don’t know why this is happening when so many people testified against him.
“There are going to be a lot of other lawsuits. But I think they’re going to just die on the vine. He’s out. That’s it.
“Your PTSD just comes right up. Right up in your eyes. Right up in your face. It just brings everything back up. I had awful nightmares."
- Katie Balevic
VICTIMS SPEAK OUT: VICTORIA VALENTINO
Victoria Valentino, 83, said Cosby raped her in the 1970s after giving her a "red pill," according to the Washington Post.
“The first thought through my mind was, ‘This can’t be true. How can they free him from prison after all these lives he’s destroyed?’" she told the Post.
“We feel like women have just been thrown under the bus one more time. But instead of making us shrink away, I think it’s going to [anger] us even more and it’s going to step up our motivation and our energy to stand up for what’s right.
“It’s gotten me kicked into gear to speak out.
“And that’s a good thing.”
- Katie Balevic
TWITTER THREAD DETAILS LEGAL PROCEDURES
- Katie Balevic
TWITTER RALLIES BEHIND COSBY'S VICTIMS
"Thinking about Andrea Constand," one person tweeted.
"Sending love and strength to Andrea Constand and all the survivors who felt a sense of closure after Cosby’s conviction," another said.
- Katie Balevic
'BILL COSBY IS NOT INNOCENT' CONSTAND RETWEETS
Andrea Constand, one of the dozens of women who accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault, retweeted a post from Hope Healing and Transformation on Thursday.
"Our organization stands in worldwide truth with all survivors of sexual abuse. Your story and voice matter right now more than ever. Silence is NOT an option.
"BILL COSBY IS NOT INNOCENT. Days like this are not easy. But together we will unite for justice and heal," the post read.
- Katie Balevic
VICTIMS' STATEMENT CONTINUED
"We remain grateful to those women who came forward to tell their stories, to DA Kevin Steele and the excellent prosecutors who achieved a conviction at trial, despite the ultimate outcome which resulted from a procedural technicality, and we urge all victims to have their voices heard," Constand, Troiani, and Kivitz said.
- Katie Balevic
COSBY'S VICTIMS CALL DECISION 'DISAPPOINTING'
"Today's majority decision regarding Bill Cosby is 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," Andrea Constand, Dolores Troiani, and Bebe Kivitz said in a statement.
- Katie Balevic
COMEDIAN DIDN'T ADDRESS REPORTERS BUT RELEASED STATEMENT
Cosby didn’t address reporters following his release on Wednesday but tweeted an image of him holding his right fist in the air.
He said: “I have never changed my stance, nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence.
“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.”
- Katie Balevic
COSBY ATE PIZZA AND PLANNED A RETURN TO THE STAGE
Spokesperson Andrew Wyatt said Cosby planned a dinner of salmon, collard greens, and a pizza with basil and mozzarella, The New York Post reports.
He told reporters: “He wants to have a crunchy pizza and just the taste of it.”
Cosby's rep also revealed that the comedian wants to return to the stage.
Wyatt said: “He will get back on the stage, on many stages across this country, and he will be telling his story.”
- Katie Balevic
PROTESTORS GATHERED OUTSIDE COSBY'S HOME
"We believe the women!" they chanted.
- Katie Balevic
SOME DRAW PARALLELS BETWEEN COSBY AND BRITNEY
"We live in a country where Bill Cosby, a rapist, is allowed his freedom and Britney Spears, a woman who doesn’t have the autonomy over her own body, life or career is not. Gross. Our system is in shambles," one person tweeted.
"Good morning to everyone but Britney Spears’ dad, Bill Cosby and all the judges involved that made the wrong fucking calls," another said.
- Katie Balevic
COSBY SAID HE WOULD 'NEVER SHOW REMORSE'
- Katie Balevic
'#METOO HASN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH' ONE LAWYER SAYS
- Katie Balevic
GABRIELLE UNION NOTES COSBY'S SENTENCE OVERTURNED ON TECHNICALITY
- Katie Balevic
#METOO TRENDS ONCE AGAIN
- Julia Fields
COSBY'S RESPONSE TO RELEASE
Source: Read Full Article