Phylicia Rashad is coming to the defense of her longtime on-screen husband Bill Cosby.
According to Rodger Friedman of Showbiz411, the actress spoke out about Cosby’s recent sexual abuse allegations on Tuesday.
“I don’t want to become part of the public debate,” she said when asked about the Cosby allegations.
WATCH: Keshia Knight Pulliam Defends Bill Cosby
“Forget these women,” Rashad said of Cosby’s accusers. “What you’re seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it’s orchestrated. I don’t know why or who’s doing it, but it’s the legacy. And it’s a legacy that is so important to the culture.”
Adding, “Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV, and it’s worked. All his contracts have been cancelled.”
The former “Cosby Show” star reportedly dismissed claims from Beverly Johnson and Janice Dickinson, saying, “Oh, please,” when their names were mentioned.
WATCH: The Cosby Scandal: Is His Legacy Irreparably Damaged?
Rashad also defended her former co-star’s wife, Camille Cosby.
“This is a tough woman, a smart woman,” she said. “She’s no pushover.”
When asked about Cosby remaining relatively quiet about the accusations, Rashad questioned what speaking out would accomplish.
READ: Promoters Say Bill Cosby’s Canadian Shows Will Happen
“If he spoke now, what do you think the media would do with it?” she said.
As previously reported on Access Hollywood.com, “Cosby Show” star Keshia Knight Pulliam spoke out on the Cosby allegations on Monday’s Access Hollywood Live.
“Ultimately, I really can’t speak to that. Whoever is involved, those are the people who were there. I wasn’t there. I can only speak to the great man that I know and love, who has been so generous, who has been such a philanthropist and giving back millions of dollars to education and schools. And just the man I grew up knowing. It’s really not my place to speak on that,” Keshia said this week. “Unfortunately, in the court of public opinion everyone has formed their opinion, but we’re still in America and you’re innocent until proven guilty of any crimes.”
Cosby’s lawyer, Martin D. Singer, previously spoke out about the accusations in November.
READ: Bill Cosby’s Daughter Evin Releases Statement (Exclusive)
“The new, never-before-heard claims from women who have come forward in the past two weeks with unsubstantiated, fantastical stories about things they say occurred 30, 40, or even 50 years ago have escalated far past the point of absurdity,” Singer’s statement read.
“These brand new claims about alleged decades-old events are becoming increasingly ridiculous, and it is completely illogical that so many people would have said nothing, done nothing, and made no reports to law enforcement or asserted civil claims if they thought they had been assaulted over a span of so many years,” the statement continued.
“Lawsuits are filed against people in the public eye every day. There has never been a shortage of lawyers willing to represent people with claims against rich, powerful men, so it makes no sense that not one of these new women who just came forward for the first time now ever asserted a legal claim back at the time they allege they had been sexually assaulted,” Singer said in his statement.
Cosby has not been charged with any crime.
— Jesse Spero
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