For decades, there was no more beloved entertainment figure than Bill Cosby. Comedian, actor, author, and philanthropist, Cosby rose from the projects of Philadelphia to become one of the brightest stars of his era. He enjoyed a reputation for ethics and honesty around the world.
And then, 40 years after his meteoric rise to stardom, Cosby’s ethical reputation absorbed a hammer blow that would ultimately prove fatal to his career. Starting in 2005, women began to raise allegations of drugging and sexual assault that shook the Cosby empire. New allegations and negative media reports continued to dog the entertainer for several years afterward, although his lawyers shrugged it all off as preposterous.
In 2014 and 2015, more media reports surfaced from women charging that Cosby had drugged them in order to commit sex acts from the 1960s through the 1980s. They described him as a calculating and manipulative predator. Both Netflix and NBC, announced they were shelving plans for the comedian’s comeback.
Through it all, Cosby continued to refuse to address the mounting allegations. In several media interviews, he would not directly confront the growing list of abuse charges that had scuttled his once-impeccable reputation. The legal proceedings related to this case continue to unfold.
1- How would you assess the Cosby public relations strategy of allowing lawyers and others to answer charges?
2- What would you have advised the comedian upon receiving the invitation to appear on NPR?