Phylicia Rashad draws criticism over her support for Bill Cosby’s release

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Bill Cosby’s press conference after his release from jail FOX’s I NewsNOW

Lawyers and family representatives spoke alongside Bill Cosby after his release from prison. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his previous sexual assault conviction.

WASHINGTON – Phylicia Rashad found herself embroiled in controversy after voicing public support for Bill Cosby’s release from prison, with some prominent black voices calling for his dismissal as dean of the College of Fine Arts in the Howard University.

Whether Rashad’s position in Howard is in jeopardy remains to be seen, but the university quickly distanced itself from his remarks.

Rashad, who played Cosby’s wife for years on the family sitcom “The Cosby Show,” was named the college dean with much fanfare this year. Cosby was released from jail on Wednesday after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his sexual assault conviction, ruling that Cosby’s deal with the previous district attorney in 2005 should have prevented him from being charged in the case from 2018.

After the ruling, Rashad tweeted a photo of Cosby, with the message: “FINALLY !!!! A terrible wrong is being righted – a miscarriage of justice is being corrected!”

FILE – Phylicia Rashad visits SiriusXM Studios on January 13, 2020 in New York City.

RELATED: Bill Cosby released from jail after sexual assault conviction overturned by court

The tweet elicited an immediate response online, with a few expressing support, but many others attacking Rashad for defending a man accused of drugging and raping several women over a span of decades.

Some of the harshest critics have called for Rashad to be removed from her post, saying her apparent indifference to the serial sexual assault allegations made her unfit for a position of authority over the students.

Jelani Cobb, professor of journalism at Columbia University and frequent contributor to New Yorker magazine, tweeted directly at Howard University, bluntly saying, “This person shouldn’t be a dean.”

Rashad’s support for Cosby is nothing new. She had publicly defended him during his long years of legal battles. But the rise of the #Metoo movement and his new post at a prominent educational institution contributed to the intense backlash for Cosby’s release.

RELATED: Howard University Issues Statement Regarding Phylicia Rashad’s Tweets on Bill Cosby

Hours after her tweet on Wednesday, Rashad sent a clarification, expressing sympathy for all survivors of sexual assault, but not mentioning Cosby or her case.

“I fully support survivors of sexual assault who come forward. My post was by no means meant to be oblivious to their truth,” she wrote. “Personally, I know from my friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My sincere wish is a cure.”

In a statement, Howard acknowledged Rashad’s clarifications and said his initial tweet “lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault. The personal positions of university leaders do not reflect the policies of Howard University. We will continue to fully defend the survivors and defend their right to be heard. “

Rashad is an alumnus of Howard, and her appointment as Dean of Fine Arts has been hailed as a homecoming, with Howard Provost Anthony K. Wutoh stating that her “passion for the arts and student achievement made her she is an ideal person for this role “.

Cosby, 83, had served nearly three years of a three to ten year sentence for drugging and raping Temple University sports administrator Andrea Constand in 2004. After his release, he tweeted that he had always maintained his innocence and thanked his fans, supporters and friends who supported him.

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Associated Press writer Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

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