Last Wednesday, Dec. 30, Bill Cosby was charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in his home 12 years ago. For many, this charge is a step toward justice, as over 50 women have publicly accused Cosby of sexual assault, with their stories usually involving being drugged -- including supermodel Janice Dickinson. This was the first charge Cosby has faced regarding any sexual assault despite his large number of accusers.
On New Year's Eve, Cosby tweeted, "Friends and fans, Thank You." This was met with mixed reactions, to say the least, with the vast majority condemning the comedian for his repeated violations against women. Cosby is formally charged with aggravated indecent assault and briefly appeared in a courtroom in Pennsylvania to post his bail, which was set at $1 million. If convicted, Cosby could serve five to 10 years behind bars, and pay a fine of $25,000.
One large component of Cosby's ongoing chronicles with his alleged history of sexual assault is its depiction in the media. Most notably, allegations against him are shining a light onto the rape culture of the 1970s and '80s America, especially in the entertainment industry. Many of the Cosby's accusers have made note of their lack of awareness that date rape, or rape committed by an acquaintance, was considered rape at all, as well as their belief that Cosby's status and influence would result in their not being believed.
In light of this, Amy Schumer tackled a sketch on her show, "Inside Amy Schumer," regarding the media's reluctance to condemn Cosby in the public eye due to his seemingly fixed role as the quintessential American dad in his eponymous TV program, "The Cosby Show." The sketch features Schumer as Cosby's lawyer in the court of public opinion, invoking nostalgia among the jury so that they might overlook the heinous crimes he has been accused of, with the sketch ultimately offering a strong rejection of submitting to rape culture in favor of keeping a famed actor's legacy unblemished.
Cosby's current charges come from Andrea Constand, just days before the statute of limitations on her case were set to run out. He has previously admitted under oath to giving quaaludes to women he wanted to have sex with, which falls in line with the allegations made against him by Constand, who was reportedly unable to move after an encounter with Cosby. Her attorney, Kevin Steele, stated that it was unclear what kind of drugs Cosby used on her. Cosby has previously admitted to having sex with Constand, but insists that it was consensual. His next scheduled court appearance is Jan. 14, and it was recently decided that his wife, Camille, will be forced to testify during the trial.
