Journalists apologize for ignoring Cosby abuse claims over the years
As allegations of sexual abuse by Bill Cosby continue to grow — more than 18 women have now accused the TV star — some journalists who covered Cosby over the past 40 years are now apologizing, saying they failed to follow up on the many accusations over the years.
Fox News reports Cosby biographer Mark Whitaker says he was wrong not to address numerous allegations of sexual assault. And New York Times columnist David Carr has taken to task several writers — himself included — for turning a blind eye to the claims.
“We all have our excuses, but in ignoring these claims, we let down the women who were brave enough to speak out publicly against a powerful entertainer,” Carr wrote. “Mr. Whitaker has said he didn’t want to put anything in the book, which he wrote with Mr. Cosby’s co- operation, that wasn’t confirmed — which, of course, raises the question of why he wouldn’t have done the work to knock down the accusations or make them stand up.”
Whitaker responded to Carr’s column Monday on Twitter, admitting he should have investigated the allegations: “@ carr2n David you are right. I was wrong to not deal with the sexual assault charges against Cosby and pursue them more aggressively,” Whitaker tweeted. He later added: “I am following new developments and will address them at the appropriate time. If true, the stories are shocking and horrible.”
New York Post columnist Rich- ard Johnson says a U. S. tabloid ran a story about Cosby’s daughter given to them by Cosby himself, instead of a running a story about Cosby’s alleged infidelities.
Johnson said the Enquirer was working on a story about Cosby “swinging with Sammy Davis Jr. and some showgirls in Las Vegas.”
When the paper contacted Cosby for comment on the story, the reporter says the comedian offered them another one as a trade. That story was about Cosby’s daughter Erinn, then 23, and her battles with drugs and alcohol.
“My editor told me that daddy Cosby was the source,” the source told Johnson. “He ratted out his flesh and blood.”
At least 18 women, several giving their names, have publicly accused Cosby, 77, of sexually assaulting them or attempting to sexually assault them over the past four decades, often by drugging them. Cosby has not been criminally charged and refused to address the stories in recorded interviews with The Associated Press and National Public Radio.
Many venues on Cosby’s tour are cancelling. A performing arts centre in Green Bay, Wis., has cancelled Cosby’s April show, offering no explanation but saying any tickets purchased by credit card would be refunded by Dec. 10.
Performances i n Oklahoma, Nevada, Illinois, Arizona, South Carolina and Washington also have been cancelled.