Billy Cosby’s accusers continue coming forward. The count is now up to 23 alleged sexual assault victims between 1965 and 2004. The comic genius isn’t commenting publicly on the accusations, but he’s not running and hiding, either.
Cosby is set to speak at Freed-Hardeman University near Jackson, Tennessee, on Dec. 5 despite protest threats from an advocacy group for sexual-assault victims.
“If he does show up Dec. 5 to the auditorium, I’ll be out there protesting, and I won’t be alone,” David Brown, leader of the Memphis Chapter of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), told WREG.com.
Cosby has been accused of drugging and raping women, and Brown is up in arms about it. He said, “If you keep him as your keynote speaker, your fine university will hurt so many, and you will never know the harm that you have done.”
Freed-Hardeman University issued a statement:
“Our 50th FHU Benefit Dinner remains scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, to focus on our main goal—providing an avenue for donors to invest in the students’ lives. We committed to a contract with Bill Cosby many months ago after soliciting input from alumni and friends. While recent developments have drawn attention to our event because of the speaker, we hope that people will remember: 1.) This dinner is about helping students, and 2.) while we are reading stories in the media, they represent real people whose lives will be affected long after FHU’s dinner has passed. Please join us in praying for healing and peace for those involved.”
Not everyone has been so gracious to Cosby. Netflix cancelled his comedy special. NBC put the kibosh on plans for a new television series starring the iconic comedian. And TV Land stopped airing re-runs of The Cosby Show.
Let’s keep praying over this one.
