Legally, reporters are still required to use the word “allegedly” in the following sentence: Bill Cosby is allegedly a serial rapist.
But in the court of public opinion, the court of common sense, and, perhaps most crucially, the court of public relations, the members of Team Cosby Didn’t Do It are dwindling in number. Yes, deniers like Whoopi Goldberg will insist “we don’t know what we don’t know” until the cows come home with quaaludes. But it appears we have crossed a line where even those who are not willing to declare “Bill Cosby drugged and raped dozens of women” are also no longer willing to be seen with him in public. And it only took about 50 years, over 40 courageous survivors, one well-timed stand-up set, and an unsealed deposition from 2005.
The latest update on this front comes from Cosby’s talent agency, CAA. Or, more accurately, Cosby’s former talent agency: CAA dropped the comedian Wednesday. CAA has represented Cosby since 2012; for the previous 48 years, Cosby had been represented by the William Morris Agency. All a CAA official told Deadline was “We do not represent him at this time.” Cosby is now without representation.
Who else doesn’t want anything to do with Bill Cosby? Who is willing to make the PR-savvy move to distance themselves from the comedian but still lacks the conviction to just admit that the obvious reason they are doing so is because of the rising number of rape allegations and/or Cosby’s damning testimony?
It’s hard to keep track, we know. Which is why we have compiled: An Incomplete List of Entities That Do Not Want To Be Associated With Bill Cosby.
Walt Disney WorldWalt Disney World will be removing the bronze bust of Bill Cosby from Hollywood Studios. Seven months ago, Brittany Gavrilova, niece of one of the alleged victims, started an online petition asking Disney to take down the statue. Her petition got 250 signatures. As Gavrilova told local NBC affiliate, WESH Orlando, “To not be able to walk through Disney without having that difficult encounter, it makes me sad. Like, wow, this person hurt a family member of mine.” (Disney did not confirm the motivation behind the removal.)
Jill ScottA longtime defender of Cosby, Scott rescinded her support for the comedian on Twitter in the aftermath of the 2005 deposition’s publication.
About Bill Cosby. Sadly his own testimony offers PROOF of terrible deeds, which is ALL I have ever required to believe the accusations.
— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) July 6, 2015
She added more justifications for why it took her until Tuesday to change her mind: “We live in America. Many African American men are detained &/or imprisoned for crimes without evidence. I will never jump on bandwagons. based on social media or hearsay. Proof will always matter more than public opinion. The sworn testimony is proof. Completely disgusted. I stood by a man I respected and loved. I was wrong. It HURTS!!! When you get it ALL right, holla.”
BETBET’s Centric Network pulled reruns of The Cosby Show the day after the 2005 court documents surfaced.
Bounce TVThe same day BET’s Centric Network yanked The Cosby Show reruns from the air, Bounce TV pulled reruns of Cosby. As way of explanation, Bounce TV told Entertainment Weekly “that the network had only been airing Cosby for a few weeks.”
A lot of venues where Cosby’s “Far From Finished” tour was supposed to goThe Washington Post compiled a full rundown of where Cosby is and is not welcome across North America. Here, a sampling: Treasure Island in Las Vegas (“canceled by mutual agreement” because “it wasn’t a good time,” according to a Treasure Island spokesperson), Capitol Theatre in Yakima, Washington (lousy ticket sales), Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, New York (the show reportedly would’ve cost the Music Hall approximately $100,000), Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario (show is disrupted by over 100 protesters), Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre in Denver, Colorado (protesters, low attendance), Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma (canceled by the venue), Jones Hall in Houston, Texas (but they say they’re planning to reschedule), Grand Theater at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Connecticut (canceled, no comment), Hanover Theatre in Worcester, Massachusetts (Cosby agreed to cancel), Wilbur Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts (actually this time it was just bad weather, but the shows won’t be rescheduled).
NetflixOn November 18, Netflix “postponed” the release of Cosby’s stand-up special, Bill Cosby 77, which was originally scheduled to premiere on November 28.
NBCThe day after Netflix’s announcement, NBC killed a then in-development family sitcom which was slated to star Cosby, air in primetime, and potentially premiere in fall 2015.
TV LandAlso on November 19, TV Land announced it would be pulling all its planned reruns of The Cosby Show, effective immediately.
David LettermanCosby’s November 19 appearance on The Late Show was canceled less than a week in advance. Kimberly Izzo-Emmet, a Late Show representative, only told the AP, “We can’t comment on the guest booking process.” Cosby was replaced by Regis Philbin.
Temple UniversityAfter serving on Temple’s board of trustees for 32 years, Cosby resigned from his position at his alma mater on December 1, 2014.
The University of Massachusetts, AmherstCosby’s received a master’s and a doctorate in education there, was an honorary co-chair of a $300 million fundraising campaign, and had donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the university. But last November, UMass officials asked Cosby to step down from his chairman duties; Cosby agreed. University spokesman Edward Blaguszewski said in a statement that Cosby “no longer has any affiliation with the campaign nor does he serve in any other capacity for the university.”
The Berklee College of MusicThe same day that Cosby was asked to resign from his chairman position at Amherst, Berklee ended their relationship with Cosby, who had a scholarship at the school in his name.
High Point University in North CarolinaErased Cosby’s name from its advisory board.
Ben’s Chili Bowl*Cosby has long been a major presence at the D.C. institution. He shows up for major events, like a ribbon-cutting at a new Virginia location in 2014, and, as a sign behind the counter promises, the star can eat for free at the restaurant anytime he wants. But at the newest Ben’s Chili Bowl outpost — which opened Wednesday on H Street NE and is the biggest Ben’s yet — Cosby’s face is absent from the wall. (Celebrities who get that real estate include President Obama, Jesse Jackson, and Chris Rock.) According to the Washington Post, the owners of Ben’s are still figuring out what presence Cosby will have at the restaurants.