By this time, it's almost a given that everyone has heard about the now infamous Bill Cosby rape accusations. With woman after woman stepping forward accusing Cosby of rape, the list began to seem endless. It almost seemed as if he'd never get charged, but that all changed on Wednesday. Cosby was charged with sexual assault that is tied to the 2004 accusation.
When news broke, the media went wild. Images of the comedian walking into the courthouse for his arraignment began to spread like wildfire as did the news of his charges. Ever since the first few accusers came forward, not only has the media had a lot to say about the case, but so did the world who was simply watching this story and the man crumble more and more.
When I first heard about the accusations some months back, I was completely shocked. As much as I wanted to believe that this was false, when the accusations began pouring in literally everyday, I couldn't help but believe them to be true. I saw people criticize the comedian in complete disgust, yet I was completely shocked when I found that most of the opinions were in support of him. People's excuses? Let's just say I heard anything and everything: "These women brought this on themselves." "They shouldn't have been in that lifestyle anyway." "They were hoping to be celebrities so this was obviously their big break." Yeah. I know. I was grossed out by these claims too.
Then it dawned on me. Why would anyone in their right mind put themselves in the limelight at the risk of being publicly humiliated in front of millions of people if it wasn’t true? Sure, most of these women were unknown but for models like Beverly Johnson, who doesn’t need the publicity, to step forward and say they were assaulted by this man? How couldn’t it be true? But you see, this case is more than just a sexual assault case. It’s a tragedy. I know, that might seem like an unexpected word to use, right? But it is.
It’s a tragedy for a few reasons, actually. Bill Cosby was known to people like me and so many others as Dr. Huxtable; that dorky dad who we could relate to as our own. He was quirky, funny, smart and loving. A good husband and a true family man. Dr. Huxtable, along with "The Cosby Show" as a whole, broke the stereotypes of what a black family looks like, and while doing so, they became America’s favorite family. We knew who Dr. Huxtable was. But now…who is Bill Cosby?
When I saw the mugshots of him, along with hearing some of his comments these past few months, I felt like the character I watched on my TV screen was suddenly gone. That man had vanished completely. But then, I began to think and it led me to this question: do some of us refuse to believe in the accusations against Bill Cosby because he’s not Bill Cosby to us, but instead Dr. Huxtable?
It’s troubling to think that our views can become distorted on something that is so plain as day as this, simply because of a TV character. With cases like Mark Sallling from Glee being charged with possession of child pornography, and Stephen Collins from "7th Heaven" admitting to molesting children, all of these cases have gotten a bit of the same response. Some believers, but a lot of them are naysayers who wouldn’t believe that someone who they used to look up to/identify with would do such a thing. Accepting the truth about these people is like admitting that we were wrong to look up to them in the first place.
What I’ve realized is that we absolutely cannot excuse what these actors have done, simply because they've played great characters. We cannot excuse Bill Cosby for the crimes that he’s committed just because he’s still Dr. Huxtable to some of us. Even though most people say that we need to separate the character from the actor when we watch these shows, it’s hard not to let what the actor does ultimately affect how you watch the show…if you ever watch it again.
It’s tragic because I know that now I honestly can't watch "The Cosby Show" without a slight cringe or chill. It’s tragic because as I looked at Bill Cosby walk into his arraignment, instead of basking in the glow of a long, illustrious career and celebrating the influence he’s had on so many people/communities; instead of growing old quietly and living happily with his wife and simply enjoying life — here he was, being charged with heinous crimes that are absolutely inexcusable; being publicly humiliated and wearing a badge of shame that, to some, will never go away, regardless of the outcome of his case. It’s a tragedy indeed.
Now, as it relates more personally to me, I’m not discrediting everything Cosby has done as it deals with families and especially the black community. But, don’t you think it’s kind of hard to appreciate his achievements in those things, when it feels as if all of it was built on a foundation of lies? Especially when you consider the fact that Cosby often took his platform beyond he TV screen and chose to chastise the actions of so many whose behavior didn't meet with his approval. He used his celebrity to set a standard of morality and conduct that he, himself, did not even live up to.
No, this isn’t some ploy to bring down a black entertainer and though those types of things are very true, this just simply isn’t the case. These women are not to blame for Cosby’s downfall. No. He’s the only one to blame for the taking back of awards, downfall in the black community, distrust amongst people who grew up with him, and the complete betrayal of the legacy he could've left.
But instead of applauding a man whose talent and "father wit" meant so much to so many of us, here we are in the middle of this big ‘ole mess that is sad, tragic and completely heartbreaking for so many reasons. At the end of the day, there’s a man who has tarnished his own legacy and a myriad of women whose lives are now forever changed, in the most traumatic way possible.
So, I leave you with this. For all of you who say we must separate the man from his work, I ask you: are you truly able to do that? Are you able to distinguish between the two? And who are you really defending? A fictional character named Cliff Huxtable or a real, living, breathing individual named Bill Cosby, who, from all appearances, may not be worthy of our admiration?
