Bill Cosby sexual assault cases

Cosby before receiving an award in 2010

American entertainer Bill Cosby has been the subject of publicized sexual assault allegations since about 2000. As of October 23, 2015, Cosby has been accused by at least 57 women, including a former Mrs. America, of either rape, drug facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery and/or sexual misconduct, with the earliest alleged incidents taking place in the mid-1960s, and the term "serial rapist" has been used about him. Gloria Allred is representing 28 of the alleged victims. Allred has stated that more alleged victims would be coming forward. Cosby has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime.

Earlier sexual assault allegations against Cosby became more public after an October 2014 accusation by comedian Hannibal Buress went viral, and many additional claims were made after that date. The dates of the alleged incidents span from 1965 to 2008 across 10 U.S. states and one Canadian province, and most of the acts alleged by his accusers fall outside the statutes of limitations for legal proceedings. As of October 2015, seven related lawsuits against Cosby are pending.

In July 2015, the court records from Andrea Constand's 2005 civil lawsuit against Cosby were unsealed and released. Cosby's testimony shows a history of casual sex involving use of Quaaludes with a series of young women. Criminal investigations, responses by the accusers, sexual drugging jokes, legislation, as well as program and policy changes have all been part of the controversy surrounding these allegations.

Cosby has declined to publicly discuss the accusations in past interviews. He told Florida Today, "people shouldn’t have to go through that and shouldn’t answer to innuendos". In May 2015 he said, "I have been in this business 52 years and I've never seen anything like this. Reality is a situation and I can't speak."

In the wake of the allegations, numerous organizations have severed ties with the comedian, and previously awarded honors and titles have been revoked. Reruns of The Cosby Show have also been pulled from syndication. As of 2014, the talent agency CAA dropped Cosby as a client, leaving the comedian without a Hollywood agent. In an unprecedented condemnation of Cosby's actions and alleged crimes, more than a dozen colleges and universities have rescinded his honorary degrees.

Early allegations and investigation

The earliest known incident involved Kristina Ruehli, who accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting her in his Beverly Hills home in December 1965. Contemporaneously, Ruehli told her boyfriend about the incident, and in the 1980s also told her daughter. However, she did not speak further about it until 2005, when she came forward in the Andrea Constand case as Jane Doe #12. Also among the earliest known accusers was Joan Tarshis, who told her story to freelance reporter John Milward in the early 1980s; however, Milward decided not to publish the story. In 1996, former Playboy Playmate Victoria Valentino gave a videotaped interview in which she made sexual assault allegations against Cosby. The interview was for an expose on the lives of Playboy models, which was never published.

In January 2000, then 20-year-old actress Lachele Covington, who had played a waitress on Cosby, alleged she was groped by Cosby, but the district attorney's office "decided no crime had been committed". In January 2004, Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, accused Cosby of drugging and fondling her; however, in February 2005, Montgomery County's District Attorney said there would be no charges due to "insufficient credible and admissible evidence". Constand then filed a civil claim in March 2005, with 13 women as potential witnesses if the case went to court. Cosby settled out of court for an undisclosed amount in November 2006. After learning that charges were not pursued in the case, California lawyer Tamara Lucier Green, the only publicly named woman in the prior case, came forward with allegations in February 2005 that Cosby had drugged and assaulted her in the 1970s. Cosby's lawyer said that Cosby did not know her and the events did not happen. In a July 2005 Philadelphia Daily News interview, Beth Ferrier, one of the anonymous "Jane Doe" witnesses in the Constand case, alleged that in 1984 he drugged her coffee and she awoke with her clothes partially removed. Additionally, in 2005, Shawn Upshaw Brown, a woman whom Cosby admitted to having an extra-marital affair with in the 70's, publicly accused Cosby of drugging and raping her the last time the two were together sexually. Brown is the mother of Autumn Jackson, who claims to be Cosby's illegitimate daughter.

Buress remarks and aftermath

Demonstrators in Kitchener, Ontario

In October 2014, as part of Hannibal Buress's stand-up comedy routine in Philadelphia, Buress addressed Cosby's legacy of "talk[ing] down" to young black men about their mode of dress and lifestyle. Buress criticized the actor's public moralizing by saying, "Yeah, but you raped women, Bill Cosby, so that kind of brings you down a couple notches." The audience appeared to respond to Buress's accusation as an incredulous joke before he encouraged everyone to "Google 'Bill Cosby rape'" when they got home. Buress had been using the same Cosby routine for the previous six months with little response, but the October performance went viral after being posted on Philadelphia magazine's website. A media firestorm ensued, with numerous publications tackling the question of how Cosby had managed to maintain, as Buress called it in his routine, a "teflon image" despite more than a decade of public sex abuse accusations.

Shortly after Buress's comedy routine went viral, Cosby's social media team started a "meme me" campaign on Twitter, in hopes of generating amusing memes to promote the comedian. It backfired when users created memes referencing the rape allegations which were shared under the hashtag #CosbyMeme. They included memes such as: "Define 'drugged'" and "My two favorite things...Jello Pudding and Rape". The increased attention on the old allegations generated additional media coverage, and may have contributed to more claimants publicly accusing Cosby.

Buress's viral routine also happened to roughly correspond with the release of Cosby: His Life and Times, a biography of the comedian that was released several weeks earlier. The 544-page Cosby-approved biography was touted as the most prolific look at Cosby's life to date, but did not include a single word about the public sexual abuse allegations against him. In the wake of the unfolding controversy, the biography became a lightning rod for criticism and a symbol for how Cosby had been able to manipulate the media for so many years. After originally defending his decision not to mention the allegations, author Mark Whitaker faced swarming criticism by the end of the year, and eventually issued an apology after The New York Times called him one of Cosby's "media enablers."

Cosby was asked directly about Buress's comments and the resulting fallout in two November 2014 interviews, which were originally intended to be about a new art exhibit at the Smithsonian that featured his private collection of African American art. In an NPR interview on November 15, reporter Scott Simon said: "This question gives me no pleasure, Mr. Cosby, but there have been serious allegations raised about you in recent days." Cosby became silent, leading to an awkward radio exchange in which Simon verbally described Cosby's actions to listeners: "you're shaking your head no." Simon continued asking Cosby to comment on the allegations before finally wrapping up the interview with no further communication from Cosby.

In a November 6 interview with Associated Press reporter Brett Zongker, Cosby appeared visibly rattled by the unexpected Buress questions and told Zongker, "No, no, we don't answer that." In the proceeding minutes, Cosby repeatedly attempted to get Zongker to confirm that the AP would edit out the Buress questions, implying that Zongker's "integrity" and ability to be a "serious reporter" would be compromised if that portion of the interview was not "scuttled." When Zongker failed to guarantee this request, Cosby turned to his off-camera publicist David Brokaw and told him to get on the phone with Zongker's editors "immediately." When the interview was first released on November 10, the Buress questions had indeed been omitted. However, after the allegations continued to gain new traction, including a new accusation from Janice Dickinson, the AP decided to release footage of the full exchange on November 19.

Newer allegations

See also: § Table of known accusers

Additional assault allegations

In November 2014, journalist Joan Tarshis, model Janice Dickinson, actress Louisa Moritz, Lou Ferrigno's wife Carla Ferrigno, Florida nurse Therese Serignese, Playboy Playmates Victoria Valentino and Sarita Butterfield, TV host Charlotte Laws, actress Michelle Hurd, and 11 other women also made accusations of incidents allegedly occurring between 1965 and 2004. His attorney stated that Dickinson's account differed from prior accounts she gave of the incident, and released a statement that said in part: "Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment." A follow-up statement dismissed the allegations as "unsubstantiated" and an example of "media vilification". A joint statement from Cosby and Andrea Constand, who had received a civil case settlement in 2006, clarified the statement released a few days prior by stating that it did not refer to Constand's case which was resolved years ago. An article by model Beverly Johnson in Vanity Fair alleges she was drugged during an audition in 1986, and knows other women with similar accounts. In January 2015, Cindra Ladd alleged that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1969.

In May 2015, Lili Bernard claimed that Cosby sexually assaulted her in 1992 and that she had been interviewed by police in Atlantic City, New Jersey regarding the allegation. Because that state has no statute of limitations for rape, Bernard hoped charges will be brought, but media reports noted, "it wasn't clear ... if what [Bernard] says happened to her happened in New Jersey."

As of August 20, 2015, more than 50 women have claimed that they were sexually abused by him, and the terms "sociopath" and "serial rapist" have been used about him. Jewell Allison, one of his accusers, described him as a "sociopath" and stated: "We may be looking at America’s greatest serial rapist that ever got away with this for the longest amount of time. He got away with it because he was hiding behind the image of Cliff Huxtable."

Acquisition and illegal distribution of drugs

As the allegations against Cosby unfolded, a consistent theme developed involving the use of drugs. Many accusers complained of blacking out after having a drink or taking a pill offered by Cosby. In November 2014, Linda Joy Traitz detailed an alleged incident more than 40 years earlier where she claims Cosby had a "briefcase filled with assorted drugs" in his car. Cosby's attorney Marty Singer specifically criticized that detail of her story as "utter nonsense."

Just a couple days later, however, former comedy club owner Joyce Emmons also claimed that in the 1970s Cosby would brag to her about the "drawer full of drugs," including Quaaludes, that he kept in his Las Vegas suite, despite her repeatedly telling him she was not interested. Emmons said Cosby would liberally give drugs to other people but never took any himself.

Emmons's assertions gained credence when Cosby's 2005 court deposition was made public in 2015, in which the comedian admitted under oath to receiving Quaaludes from gynecologist Leroy Amar and illegally dispensing them to other people.

Former physician Vicki Hufnagel claims that in the late 1970s, Cosby also received Quaaludes from Dr. Maclyn Wade, who at the time was the head of obstetrics and gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Hufnagel claims that while Camille Cosby was at the hospital for an appointment, Wade took Bill Cosby into another room and gave him a prescription for Quaaludes and joked that he was "seeing both [Cosby's] wife and girlfriend at the same time."

Payments and cover-up

It has been reported that one of the reasons why many of Cosby's accusers did not initially come forward is because Cosby gave them money in exchange for their silence. In November 2014, former NBC facilities manager Frank Scotti told the New York Daily News that while working on The Cosby Show, Cosby funneled regular payments to several women via money orders that Scotti was told to purchase in his own name. Among the women identified in receipts that Scotti preserved for more than 20 years were Shawn Thompson, Cosby's admitted mistress who later accused him of fathering her child, and Angela Leslie, who claimed Cosby made unwanted sexual advances toward her in the early 1990s. Scotti "suspected that [Cosby] was having sex with them." He also noted that Cosby "was covering himself by having my name on [the money orders]. It was a coverup."

Scotti also claimed that Cosby regularly took aspiring models and actresses into his dressing room and instructed Scotti, "Stand outside the door and don't let anyone in." In a later interview for NBC's Today Show, Scotti said he "felt like a pimp." Cosby's lawyer Martin Singer denied Scotti's accusations and said the walker-bound 90-year-old was merely seeking "his 15 minutes of fame." Scotti died less than five months later.

In the 2005 deposition that was made public in July 2015, Cosby admitted to making regular payments to Therese Serignese after having sex with her in the 1970s. Serignese is one of four women now suing Cosby for denying that he sexually assaulted her.

Fallout

File:Cosby communications center.png

The Camille O. and William H. Cosby Mass Communication Telecommunication Center at Central State University before (above) and after (below) Cosby's 2005 court deposition was made public.

Numerous institutions, colleges, universities, businesses and broadcast networks have severed ties with Cosby as a result of the allegations.

Institutions sever ties

In November 2014, colleges and universities with ties to Cosby began removing their affiliations with him. The University of Massachusetts Amherst, one of Cosby's almae matres, asked Cosby to step down as an honorary co-chairman of the university's fundraising campaign. The Berklee College of Music, which had previously awarded Cosby with an honorary degree, got rid of a scholarship that it offered in Cosby's name. High Point University in North Carolina also pulled Cosby from its advisory board, and Freed-Hardeman University rescinded its invitation for Cosby to appear at an annual dinner in December.

On December 4, 2014, the United States Navy took the rare step of revoking Cosby's honorary title of Chief Petty Officer, which he had received in 2011. The Navy released a statement saying the "allegations against Mr. Cosby are very serious and are in conflict with the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment."

In December 2014 amid pressure to cut long-term ties with Temple University, Cosby resigned from the board of trustees.

On December 14, 2014, Spelman College indefinitely suspended its "Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Endowed Professorship," named after Bill Cosby's wife. The college said it would restore the endowed professorship when its "original goals can again be met," but after Cosby's 2005 deposition became public in July 2015, Spelman discontinued the professorship entirely.

By the end of 2014, talent agency CAA dropped Cosby as a client, leaving him without a Hollywood agent.

On July 7, 2015, Walt Disney World removed a statue of Bill Cosby that had been featured as part of the Hollywood Studios park's "Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza."

In mid July 2015, after enormous public pressure to remove art work owned by Cosby, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art decided to post a disclaimer reminding visitors that an exhibition featuring Bill Cosby's art collection is about the artists, not a tribute to the embattled comedian.

On July 20, 2015, it was announced that Cosby would no longer appear in the upcoming documentary Painted Down, about the history of African American stuntmen in film and TV. Cosby is credited with helping to create the Black Stuntmen's Association in 1967. Producer Nonie Robinson claimed, "We were the last project standing behind him" but said that pulling him from the documentary was "the right thing to do in light of the recent court deposition being made public." At the same time, The Black Stuntmen's Association removed a tribute to Cosby on its website.

On July 23, 2015, Simon & Schuster confirmed to the Associated Press that it would not be releasing a paperback version of the Cosby-approved 2014 biography Cosby: His Life and Times, which gained criticism for not addressing the then-few public sexual assault allegations against Cosby. The publisher also pulled celebrity endorsements for the book after David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld reportedly asked to distance themselves from the biography.

On July 23, 2015, according to the Philadelphia City Paper, a "Father’s Day" mural depicting Cosby, Nelson Mandela, and Desmond Tutu, was scheduled for removal. It was painted over after being defaced with graffiti reading "rapist" and "dude with ludes," referencing the recently unsealed 2005 deposition in which the comedian admitted to obtaining Quaaludes to give to women with the intention of having sex with them. The Mural Arts Program was already intending to remove the mural, but rapidly accelerated the removal due to pressure.

On August 17, 2015, New York University's free 12-week film program for high school students cut all ties with Cosby, NYU had previously named the program “William H. Cosby Future Filmmakers Workshop”. NYU has since removed Cosby’s name from the Future Filmmakers program, and deleted the webpage containing program information. “The workshops will be continuing, but Cosby’s name has been removed ... in light of recent events” NYU spokesperson Matt Nagel told NYU Local in an August 28 email.

On September 2, 2015, a portrait of Bill Cosby made from seeds sparked outrage from attendees at the Minnesota State Fair held at the Agriculture Horticulture Building in Minnesota. Artist Nick Rindo made the crop portrait of Bill Cosby from a type of canola seeds called rapeseed. He accompanied the Cosby portrait with a small card, explaining that it was made from rapeseed, but one of the staff taped over the word rapeseed. Due to the outrage, it was taken down after a day of display.

On September 11, 2015, Central State University, a Historically black college which Cosby has donated over $2 million to, officially permanently removed Cosby's name from the Camille O. & William H. Cosby Communications Center and renamed it the CSU Communications Center. The school had been temporarily covering Cosby's name since July while it made a final decision.

October 2015, John Jay College of Criminal Justice president, Jeremy Travis, said a proposal to rescind Mr. Cosby’s degree was “under very active consideration at the moment.” “What makes the case compelling” he said in a phone interview, “is the very serious pattern of misconduct that’s been revealed both in journalistic accounts and by a large number of women who have now bravely come forward and has been validated by Mr. Cosby’s own testimony in deposition about his pattern of conduct.”

On October 7, 2015, Temple University announced that it would be further distancing itself from Cosby by replacing the vacated seat that he resigned from in December 2014, with Temple alumnus and NBC correspondent Tamron Hall. The board is expected to vote on this on October 13, 2015. Hall is expected to take her seat on the board this December.

Universities & colleges rescind honorary degrees

Cosby has had a total of 13 honorary degrees rescinded. All of these have been rescinded due to allegations of sexual assault and/or immoral behavior, with some universities directly saying that these were no longer allegations, but facts admitted by Cosby, especially in the case of Fordham University.

On September 24, 2015, Fordham University rescinded Cosby's honorary degree they had given to him in 2001. It was the first time Fordham had ever rescinded an honorary Degree in its 174-year history. In a statement, Fordham said, "The University has taken this extraordinary step in light of Mr. Cosby’s now-public court depositions that confirm many of the allegations made against him by numerous women." Fordham's statement went further and said, "That Mr. Cosby was willing to drug and rape women for his sexual gratification, and further damage those same women’s reputations and careers to obscure his guilt, hurt not only his victims, but all women, and is beyond the pale." The next day Cosby's top attorney John P. Schmitt sent a strongly worded letter to Fordham University calling it's statement about rescinding Cosby's honorary doctoral degree "so irresponisible as to shock the conscience", He went on further to say,"The mischaracterization of Mr. Cosby's testimony is so egregious that one can only conclude that it was written by one either unfamiliar with the testimony or determined deliberately to misrepresent Mr. Cosby's words." In his letter to Fordham, Schmitt criticized the university for an apparent effort to lend "gratuituous support" to defamation suits pending against Cosby, citing what he called the school's unfounded claim that the entertainer has a "longtime strategy of denigrating the reputations of women who accused him of such actions."

On September 24, 2015, Marquette University took the unprecedented step of rescinding Cosby's honorary degree they had given to him in 2013. It was the first time Marquette had ever rescinded an Honorary Degree in its 134-year history. Marquette President Michael Lovell and Provost Daniel Myers issued a letter to the university community after the vote that said, "By his own admission, Mr. Cosby engaged in behaviors that go entirely against our university's mission and the Guiding Values we have worked so hard to instill on our campus."

On September 25, 2015, The University of San Francisco Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rescind the honorary degree awarded to Bill Cosby in 2012, according to the Office of the President. The university sent Cosby a letter informing him of the decision. "By his own statements in a court deposition made public in July, Mr. Cosby acknowledges behavior that is inconsistent with the University of San Francisco's criteria for a USF honorary degree," the university said in a statement on Monday.

On September 28, 2015, Brown University revoked the honorary degree that it had awarded Cosby in 1985. This is only the second time an Honorary degree has been revoked in the 251-year-old university history, the other being in 1918 in which Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff who was German ambassador to the United States had his revoked. President Christina Paxson wrote in a statement, "It has become clear, by his own admission in legal depositions that became public this summer, that Mr. Cosby has engaged in conduct with women that is contrary to the values of Brown." She added, "It is particularly troubling as our university community continues to confront the very real challenges of sexual violence on our campus and in society at large, and had it been known to the Fellows in 1985, an honorary degree ... would not have been conferred."

On October 2, 2015, Wilkes University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rescind the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree that Cosby received in May 2004 for his achievements in education and entertainment. "It has become clear, by Mr. Cosby’s own admission in a 2006 legal deposition Constand v. Cosby that became public this summer, that he engaged in conduct that is contrary to the values of Wilkes University and the qualities for which he was honored. This conduct is not in keeping with the principles of social justice and civil rights stated in the honorary degree citation. Mr. Cosby does not represent the ideals to which Wilkes aspires or the values most important to the university,” university spokeswoman Vicki Mayk said.

On October 8, 2015, The Baylor University board of regents voted to rescind an honorary doctor of humane letters degree the school awarded to Bill Cosby in 2003.“Because acts of interpersonal and sexual violence contradict our very mission and values, Baylor University is investing significantly to ensure the safety of our campus. Through the efforts of our Title IX Office, we are encouraging victims to report acts of interpersonal and sexual violence, and making sure those suffering from the effects of such acts are provided the necessary support and services to feel safe and be academically successful. It is against this backdrop that Baylor’s Board of Regents has decided to take this action,” Baylor spokeswoman Lori Fogleman said in a prepared statement.

On October 14, 2015, Lehigh University rescinded the honorary degree given to comedian Bill Cosby in 1987 following a resolution of the board of trustees.“In sworn deposition testimony, Mr. Cosby admitted under oath to behavior that is antithetical to the values of Lehigh University and inconsistent with the character and high standards that honorary degree recipients are expected to exemplify,” reads Lehigh’s statement.

On October 15, 2015, it was reported that Tufts University and Goucher College also rescinded degrees.

On October 20, 2015, Franklin & Marshall College announced that it rescinded the honorary doctorate in humane letters Cosby had been awarded in May 2000, when he gave the commencement speech. College spokeswoman Kate Carlisle said President Dan Porterfield had read a deposition from an old lawsuit released this summer and brought the matter to the board.The deposition, Carlisle said, “detailed events that were really egregiously in contrast to the college and our educational mission.” All 33 members of the Board of Trustees voted in favor of the decision the week prior.

On October 20, 2015, Amherst College announced that it rescinded the honorary doctorate it awarded to Bill Cosby in 1999. The motion was resolved and passed by Amherst's Board of Trustees on Saturday, October 17. In a statement, the university announced, "The Board of Trustees of Amherst College hereby rescinds the honorary degree awarded to Bill Cosby in 1999. The Board believes the violation of the values for which it was awarded is clear and exceptional." This is the first time in Amherst's history that it has rescinded an honorary degree.

On October 26, 2015, Springfield College announced that the faculty senate passed a resolution advocating the rescission of the degree they had given to him in 2002. "I believe that, by his own admission, he has shown a lack of character and integrity that is inconsistent with our Humanics philosophy, which is the foundation of a Springfield College education," said Mary-Beth Cooper, Springfield College president. "I am in full support of this decision."

On October 27, 2015, Muhlenberg College announced via email that the board of trustees had voted Friday to revoke the honorary degree conferred on Cosby in 1995. Board chairman Richard Crist says "substantial and credible information" that was unavailable at the time indicates that Cosby's conduct "substantially and materially offends the college's principles and ideals."

Broadcast networks cancel shows

On November 17, 2014, Netflix postponed a Cosby stand-up comedy special after accusations surfaced that Cosby had sexually assaulted Janice Dickinson in 1982.

Reruns of The Cosby Show and other shows associated with Cosby have also been canceled. On November 19, 2014, TV Land and NBC both ended their relationships with Cosby: TV Land announced that it was pulling reruns from its schedule and also removing clips of the show from its website, while NBC scrapped its plans to develop a brand new sitcom starring Cosby. In December 2014, the Magic Johnson-owned Aspire removed the two series, I Spy and The Bill Cosby Show from its lineup. In July 2015, broadcast network Bounce TV pulled reruns, and BET's Centric (another Viacom unit) stopped airing reruns. The show is still available on Hulu Plus.

Unsealing of Constand's civil lawsuit records

In July 2015, the Associated Press obtained court records from Andrea Constand's 2005 civil lawsuit that was settled out of court. In a deposition, Cosby testified he obtained Quaaludes from gynecologist Leroy Amar, who knew that Cosby had no intention of taking the drugs himself. Cosby instead intended to give them to women he wanted to have sexual relations with and admitted that he had given the drug to at least one woman and other people. Cosby admitted knowing it was illegal at the time to dispense the drug to other people. Amar would later have his medical license revoked in California and New York. The judge ruled that releasing the sealed document was justified by Cosby's role as a "public moralist" in contrast to his possible criminal private behavior. On July 18, 2015 The New York Times, having obtained the complete deposition from a court reporting service, hired by Constand, that had released the document to the public domain, published a summary and excerpts. Cosby's testimony shows a history of casual sex involving use of Quaaludes with a series of young women.

In a court filing condemning the release of the deposition, Cosby's attorneys stressed that none of the testimony so far unsealed by a judge stated that he engaged in non-consensual sex or gave anyone Quaaludes without their knowledge or consent. "Reading the media accounts, one would conclude that the Defendant has admitted to rape," the document said. "And yet the Defendant admitted to nothing more than being one of the many people who introduced Quaaludes into their consensual sex life in the 1970s". Cosby's lawyers further contended that a court reporting service hired by Constand had released the 2005 court transcript to the New York Times, days earlier, in a 'massive breach of protocol'. The court reporters' code of ethics prohibits the release of testimony without all parties first being contacted.

Defenders change of mind

Two notable people who have previously defended Cosby, and believed in his innocence, have changed their minds; American actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg and Joseph C. Phillips (a Cosby Show regular for three years) each made public statements on July 15, 2015; Goldberg, for the first time, suggested Cosby may be guilty, while Phillips was more forthright, saying "Of course Bill Cosby is guilty!" Later Goldberg called him a "serial rapist".

Also on July 15, 2015, President Barack Obama was asked at a news conference if Bill Cosby’s Medal of Freedom award (which Cosby received from President George W. Bush in 2002) would be revoked. President Obama responded by stating:

"There's no precedent for revoking a medal. We don't have that mechanism. And, as you know, I tend to make it a policy not to comment on the specifics of cases where there might still be, if not criminal, then civil, issues involved. [long pause] I'll say this, if you give a woman, or a man for that matter, without his or her knowledge, a drug, and then have sex with that person without consent, that's rape. And I think this country, any civilized country, should have no tolerance for rape."

Lawsuits against Cosby

As of October 14, 2015, there are seven lawsuits currently active against the embattled comedian: Judith Huth's sexual assault suit; two defamation lawsuits, of which Cosby's homeowner's insurance Company AIG is paying for, which includes one from Janice Dickinson and another by Tamara Green adjoined by Therese Serignese and Linda Traitz; two by AIG, which is suing Cosby for declaratory relief in both the lawsuits in which they are currently footing the bill, one by Chloe Goins and one by Renita Hill.

Twenty eight of the accusers are being represented by attorney Gloria Allred.

Andrea Constand (2005)

Andrea Constand claimed Bill Cosby assaulted her in 2004 while she was working at Temple University. After prosecutors failed to bring criminal charges against Cosby, Constand filed a lawsuit in civil court in March 2005, spurring more than 10 other women to come forward as potential witnesses claiming that Cosby had sexually assaulted them as well. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2006, after Cosby provided a sworn deposition but before the case ever went to trial.

Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, and Linda Traitz

Tamara Green, one of the witnesses in Constand's case, re-told her story to Newsweek in February 2014. Cosby's publicist David Brokaw issued a statement at the time calling Green's story a "10-year discredited accusation that proved to be nothing at the time, and is still nothing." When the sexual assault claims against Cosby exploded at the end of 2014, denials by Brokaw and other Cosby representatives became even more vehement, with lawyer Martin Singer calling all of the allegations "unsubstantiated, fantastical stories ... [that] have escalated past the point of absurdity."

Green filed a lawsuit against Cosby and his representatives in December 2014, claiming that the continued denials amounted to publicly branding her as a liar, resulting in defamation of character.

In January 2015, the lawsuit was amended to allow fellow accusers Linda Joy Traitz and Therese Serignese to be added as co-plaintiffs. Martin Singer had released a statement specifically targeting Traitz after she posted allegations against Cosby on Facebook in November, calling her story "ridiculous," "absurd," and "utter nonsense." No such denials were leveled explicitly at Serignese, but she claims the sweeping denials against all of Cosby's accusers included her and has damaged her reputation as well.

Since Green's lawsuit was filed, public responses from Cosby and his legal team have shifted in tone. Singer and Brokaw refrained from making additional statements. When attorney Monique Pressley, hired by Cosby in 2015, was asked about the specific accusers, her consistent response has been, "Today's not my day to get sued, so I'm not calling them liars. What I'm saying is that Mr. Cosby has denied the accusations and the allegations."

On October 20, 2015, AIG filed legal papers in this case to try to put a stay on the litigation, pending a court declaration of whether the insurance company has a duty to help defend Bill Cosby as well as pay for any actual damages won. AIG Property Casualty Company claims that Cosby’s policy doesn’t cover the liability he’s currently facing in the lawsuit — but they’ve nonetheless been funding Cosby’s legal defense “at a considerable cost.”"

Janice Dickinson

Janice Dickinson brought forth a similar defamation lawsuit against Cosby in May 2015, filed in California. The suit from Green, Serignese, and Traitz is in Cosby's home state of Massachusetts.

When Dickinson came forward in November 2014 to accuse Cosby of raping her in 1982, Martin Singer issued a denial on behalf of Cosby, saying explicitly, "Janice Dickinson’s story accusing Bill Cosby of rape is a lie." According to Dickinson's attorney, Lisa Bloom, "Calling Dickinson a liar is a defamatory statement under the law ... and that's the mistake Bill Cosby made."

Later court filings included sworn statements from friends and colleagues who confirm that Dickinson has provided a consistent story for many years about her alleged abuse. Pablo Fenjves, Dickinson's ghostwriter, as well as former ReganBooks president Judith Regan, both assert that Dickinson came forward with her allegations for her 2002 autobiography, but they were not included in the book because ReganBooks' parent company HarperCollins was afraid of being sued by Cosby.

On November 2, 2015, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Debre Katz Weintraub ruled Cosby and his former lawyer Martin Singer must give a deposition before Nov. 25. The ruling states Dickinson's lawyers can only seek answers as to whether the denials were made maliciously, and Cosby and Singer can assert attorney-client privilege and refuse to answer some questions.

Judith Huth

In December 2014, Judy Huth filed a lawsuit alleging sexual assault in 1974 at the Playboy Mansion when she was 15 years old. It is one of two active lawsuits against Cosby directly alleging sexual assault. Even though the incident occurred more than 40 years ago, California laws allow alleged child sexual abuse victims to bring their cases forward as an adult. Cosby is counter suing both Huth and her Attorney Marc Strecker for legal fees.

On August 4, 2015, a Los Angeles superior court judge ordered Cosby to give a sworn deposition in the lawsuit. The deposition lasted 7.5 hours on October 9, 2015 in Boston, though no further details have been made public. The deposition will be sealed until at least December 22, 2015.

Andrea Constand (2015)

On July 8, 2015, Andrea Constand and her attorney Dolores Troiani filed a motion to negate the confidentiality agreement in the 2005 case against Cosby, claiming that Cosby had already engaged in "total abandonment of the confidentiality portions of the agreement" by way of the recent, sweeping denials of all allegations against him. The motion was filed in part with the hopes of being able to release the full transcript of Cosby's previously sealed deposition. Cosby's attorneys responded that Constand had already violated the confidentiality agreement by giving an interview to the Toronto Sun, which was published the same day as Constand's filing.

The entire deposition from 2005 was released 10 days later, causing Cosby's lawyers to file a new motion in the case on July 21, 2015, asserting that Constand and Troiani may have orchestrated the release of the deposition. Cosby also made further accusations against Constand for violating the confidentiality agreement, referring to vague postings on her Twitter account (including one that simply contained the word "YES!")

Troiani filed a response in which she denied that she or Constand had anything to do with the unsealing of Cosby's deposition, and continued to emphasize that it was Cosby, not Constand, who first violated the confidentiality agreement. She also referred to Cosby as a "narcissist" for assuming Constand's tweets were about him. Troiani is seeking reimbursement of legal fees from Cosby.

The case is currently being held in abeyance, pending further action in the ongoing defamation case from Tamara Green, Linda Traitz, and Therese Serignese, since that lawsuit is also seeking access to formerly confidential documents in the 2005 Constand case.

AIG Insurance

AIG Property Casualty Company, Cosby's homeowners insurance, has tentatively agreed to pick up Cosby's legal costs for the Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, and Linda Traitz cases in Massachusetts, as well as for Janice Dickinson's case in California, over whether these women were defamed when Cosby's representatives denied the occurrence of sexual misconduct. But the insurer has also filed lawsuits in both cases against Cosby aiming for declaratory relief that it is not responsible. Cosby's homeowners insurance does cover him for "personal injury," which is defined in his policy as including "bodily injury"; "shock, emotional distress, mental injury"; "invasion of privacy"; and "defamation, libel, or slander." However, the policy contains an exclusion for "sexual, physical or mental abuse," setting the stage for a potentially novel legal battle over whether a defamation claim about the denial of sexual abuse is or isn't covered.

In September 2015, Cosby filed a motion to either dismiss AIG's lawsuit or put it on hold. Cosby's attorneys argued that AIG was acting against Cosby's best interests, and that fighting both the lawsuits from the accusers as well as from his insurance company, would drain his resources.

On October 9, 2015, AIG filed a blistering response, calling Cosby's motion "bizarre and possibly unique in the entire history of American jurisprudence," criticizing Cosby's lawyers for referencing irrelevant case law from other states, and saying that if the court sided with Cosby, it "would amount to a wholesale abandonment of this Court’s jurisdiction, all for no apparent reason."

Chloe Goins

On October 6, 2015, Chloe Goins, who has criminal charges still pending against Cosby for alleged sexual molestation, filed a lawsuit against him. The suit seeks $75,000 in damages, which Goins' lawyers say is not an actual sum but a measure to allow the case to be filed.Goins is suing Cosby for an unspecified amount claiming the alleged attack left her suffering from ‘emotional distress, psychological and psychiatric trauma, mental anguish, humiliation, confusion, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, loss of dignity’, and also caused her to miss out on a ‘proper and complete education’. However Goins’s lawyer Spencer Kuvin said his client’s number one priority was that the truth comes out and Cosby is prosecuted for his actions. Kuvin said, ‘We wanted to make sure that the police had enough to time to do a full investigation so we waited until the police completed their entire investigation.‘They’ve now done that - they notified us two days ago. The investigation is now complete and has been turned over to the States attorney’s office to determine whether charges should be filed.‘Chloe is ready and available to speak with the States attorney if they need any additional information but on behalf of her individually I have to protect her claim by filing this lawsuit in civil court to make sure that the statute of limitations is preserved and that her claim is preserved.

Cosby's attorney Martin Singer has stated he has provided evidence to the Los Angeles police that established Cosby was on the east coast at the time the alleged events occurred.

‘Her first and primary issue is the prosecution of Cosby. And if in fact the states attorney decides to charge him then we will wait to pursue this civil action. I need to protect her interests while that’s pending.’ Kuvin insisted that money was not his client’s primary motive. He added, ‘We filed for an amount in excess of $75,000 but the only reason that number is in there is because we need to reach the jurisdictional limit of the court. Cosby has never been charged or convicted of a crime.

Renita Hill

On October 14, 2015, Cosby accuser Renita Hill who claims that the star gave her a bit part on television, funded her college education and pledged to assist her career, all while sporadically sexually abusing her from 1983 to 1987, filed a defamation suit against Cosby alleging that Mr. Cosby last year defamed her, cast her in a false light and intentionally inflicted emotional distress. She is seeking a jury trial. Attorney's George M. Kontos and Katie A. Killion are representing Ms. Hill.

Other related lawsuits

Andrea Constand vs Bruce Castor

On October 26, 2015, Andrea Constand, plaintiff from the 2005 case, filed a lawsuit against Bruce Castor, the District Attorney at the time of the original investigation. In a unique turn of events, Castor decided to run for District Attorney again in 2015, putting him back in the public light right in the thick of the Cosby controversy. As such, Castor defended his initial decision not to prosecute Cosby, leading him to make statements suggesting that Constand's testimony had been inconsistent and thus not reliable. Because of this, Constand sued Castor for one count of defamation; and one count of false light and invasion of privacy, asking for more than $150,000 for each offense. "Instead of correcting his error, [Castor] chose to make plaintiff collateral damage for his political ambitions," Constand said in her complaint. Castor responded, "It’s highly suspect that this entire incident is being brought out right before an election."

Criminal investigations

Lachele Covington

On February 1, 2000, according to a statement provided by Det. Jose McCallion of the Manhattan Special Victims Bureau, Lachele Covington, who was 20 years old at the time, filed a criminal complaint against Bill Cosby alleging that on January 28, 2000, at Cosby's Manhattan townhouse, Cosby tried to put her hands down his pants and then exposed himself. Covington also alleged that Cosby grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hands down her pants at his home. Cosby was questioned and insisted "it was not true". The police referred her complaint to the D.A., but they declined to prosecute.

Andrea Constand

In January 2005, a criminal investigation was opened by the Montgomery County Detectives in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, where Cosby allegedly drugged and sexually molested Andrea Constand at Cosby's home. On February 22, 2005, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor said he "finds insufficient, credible and admissible evidence exists upon which any charge against Mr. Cosby could be sustained beyond a reasonable doubt." The case was dropped.

On September 11, 2015, however, it was reported that the case may be reopened. Cosby admitted in the unsealed civil deposition that he digitally penetrated Constand which, if non-consensual, would be grounds for a felony charge such as aggravated indecent assault. The statute of limitations on such a charge would not run out until January 2016. Constand's original complaint only referenced misdemeanor-level offenses, which have a two-year statute of limitations. Several legal experts, including former prosecutors and at least one former deputy Attorney General, have said the case could be reopened and possibly tried in light of this and other additional evidence that had surfaced in the past year. The non-disclosure agreement reached in her 2006 settlement with Cosby would likely not bar Constand from testifying against him. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman would neither confirm nor deny whether her office was reconsidering the case her predecessor closed a decade ago. However, she said: "I believe prosecutors have a responsibility to review past conclusions, whether their own or a predecessor's, when current information might lead to a different decision." Cosby's original prosecutor, Bruce L. Castor Jr., is running for election in November 2015, but he or whomever takes office will not take over until after the statute has run out on the Cosby case. Some have speculated that Ferman may not try the case due to the risk of losing, and that the outcome may risk her chances of a Judgeship when her tenure runs out shortly after the statute of limitations on the Constand case.

On September 22, 2015, lawyer Edwin Jacobs said that Cosby's agents had contacted him in the past few days about a pending criminal investigation in Montgomery County. Jacobs, who had represented Cosby in a review of Lili Bernard's complaint in New Jersey, said he referred Cosby's agents to another high-profile Philadelphia-area lawyer who declined to comment. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman again still remained silent when asked if an investigation had been re-opened in the Andrea Constand Case. Constand's lawyer said she would cooperate in the new investigation if asked. "She's a very strong lady," lawyer Dolores Troiani said Tuesday. "She'll do whatever they request of her." Bruce Castor, the former district attorney, in announcing he would not bring charges against Cosby in 2005, said both parties could be portrayed in "a less than flattering light." Troiani accused Castor of defaming Constand with his latest remarks. In an open letter she issued in response to his comments, she said she believes he had "no intention of arresting Dr. Huxtable" in 2005 because he was running for governor.

On October 27, 2015 it was confirmed, from reliable sources, that an open criminal sexual assault investigation into the Constand case had been re-opened shortly after Cosby's deposition was released to the press during the summer. And that investigators had re-interviewed Constand as well as other alleged victims and witness's. Constand has stated that she would stop cooperating if the original Prosecutor Bruce Castor, whom she is suing for defamation, is re-elected and assigned to the case."The logical consequence of his actions is she has lost confidence in him," Troiani says. "He just doesn't seem to understand words have consequences. He's saying a victim of a crime should be afraid of him and now he wants her to trust him to be a witness for him?" Both Castor and Kevin Steele who is running against him have used televised political ad's firing back at each other using the Steele's Ad- "The man who wouldn't prosecute Cosby" or Castor's Ad- "Why you didn't prosecute Cosby, while I was not in office" in their campaigns. The election will be November 3, 2015 and could determine what happens with the case.

Judith Huth

On December 16, 2014, after a 10-day investigation, Los Angeles prosecutors declined to file any charges against Bill Cosby after Judy Huth claimed the comedian molested her around 1974 at the Playboy Mansion. Huth had met with Los Angeles police detectives for 90 minutes. In rejecting the case, prosecutors evaluated the charge Cosby would have faced in 1974. Prosecutors took into account legislative changes that extend the statute of limitations for certain crimes but found no way that Cosby could be legally prosecuted.

Lili Bernard

In May 2015, Cuban-American visual artist Lili Bernard filed a sexual assault complaint against Cosby in New Jersey, a state that has no statute of limitations for sexual assault. On July 1, 2015, prosecutors declined to prosecute Cosby because the alleged offense happened before 1996 (the year the law was changed to lift the statute of limitations).

Chloe Goins

On July 7, 2015, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that its criminal investigation into Bill Cosby's alleged sexual assault of then 18-year-old model Chloe Goins is open and active. "There is an investigation open," LAPD spokesperson Norma Eisenman told FOX411. The following day, in a statement to ABC News, the LAPD said it will explore any sexual assault accusations against Cosby, including accusations for which the statute of limitations has expired.

On October 1, 2015, the LAPD completed its investigation and has referred the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for potential prosecution, possibly paving the way for Cosby's first criminal charge.

Accusers' responses

On July 27, 2015, New York magazine's cover featured images of 35 women sitting in chairs with the last chair empty, suggesting there may be more victims who have not come forward yet. The 35 women told "their stories about being assaulted by Bill Cosby, and the culture that wouldn’t listen." Eleven other women known to New York magazine who allege sexual assault by Cosby declined to be photographed and interviewed for the feature. According to Vox, the stories span "more than five decades" and are "remarkably similar, typically involving the comedian offering a woman a cup of coffee or some sort of alcoholic beverage — which may be spiked with drugs — and allegedly sexually assaulting the victim as she's impaired or unconscious." On September 17, 2015 A&E broadcast the documentary program Cosby: The Women Speak, in which thirteen alleged victims provided interviews regarding their experiences.

Sexual drugging jokes

In Cosby's 1969 comedy album It's True! It's True!, he talks of his obsession with "Spanish fly" and jokes about slipping the aphrodisiac into unsuspecting women's drinks. In a December 1991 interview with Larry King, Cosby made jokes about drugging women with Spanish fly by dropping it into their drinks so they would then want to have sex with him. In his 1992 book Childhood, Cosby devotes an entire chapter to Spanish fly, and discusses how to give it to a woman: "You got to slip it to her when she thinks she's drinkin' something else." He also mentions how to know if she has too much: "Soon as her clothes come off, that's enough."

On January 8, 2015, in a stand up routine by Cosby at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario, he quipped, "You have to be careful about drinking around me," to a woman in the front row who reportedly was exiting to get a beverage and offered to grab him one. MSNBC and National Post journalists interpreted Cosby's joke as a reference to the drugging and sexual assault allegations against him.

Legislative changes

Most of Bill Cosby's alleged offenses cannot be criminally or civilly tried because of the statute of limitations. But his alleged offenses have led to some breakthroughs in sexual-assault laws and programs.

In March 2015, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a new plan titled "It's Never Okay" which includes an unprecedented $41 million budget to combat sexual violence and harassment: "The new plan was drafted in response to high-profile incidents that remain under investigation, including sexual-assault allegations against members of the University of Ottawa men's hockey team, Jian Ghomeshi, and Bill Cosby."

On May 26, 2015, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed a bill that extends the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution of rape from four years to twenty years. Lise Lotte Lublin, who accused Bill Cosby of drugging her in 1989 in a Las Vegas, Nevada hotel, testified in support of the new law and asked Nevada Assembly Member Irene Bustamante Adams to introduce bill AB212 earlier this year.

On September 15, 2015, Cosby accusers Beth Ferrier, Heidi Thomas, and Helen Hayes met with State Representative Rhonda Fields, 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler, and others at the Capitol in Denver, Colorado. There they discussed lengthening the current ten-year statute of limitations in Colorado for sexual assault. Gloria Allred, who represents most of the more than 50 alleged Cosby victims, spoke to the gathering via Skype: "I have been to New Jersey, and I'm not aware of any down side since they eliminated the statute (of limitations) for rape and sex assault." Brauchler said he doesn't want any victim denied a fair hearing because of Colorado's statute, but "I don't have a magic number." Any change would have to be done carefully, he said, because the more time that passes between an alleged sex assault and prosecution, the harder it is for the accused to defend themselves. Fields noted that Colorado has no statutory limit on murder. "Why have an arbitrary cap for sex assault?"

Table of known accusers

Alleged Victim	Alleged Sexual Offense	Alleged Drug Involvement	Year(s)	Location	First Reported	Details
Bowman, Barbara*	Rape	X	1986	New York, NY; Atlantic City, NJ	2005	One of the most outspoken accusers. Claims Cosby mentored her until she turned 18, then offered her a drug-laced glass of wine and raped her in his NYC home. Later allegedly attempted to assault her in Atlantic City and attempted to destroy her career when she fought back.
Johnson, Beverly	Attempted Assault	X	1980s	New York, NY	2013	Claims Cosby offered her a spiked espresso but was able to resist his actions and leave his house. Initially came forward in 2013 while working on her memoir, but editors feared prosecution from Cosby.
Moritz, Louisa	Rape		1971	New York, NY	2014	Claims Cosby forced oral sex backstage at The Tonight Show
Ruehli, Kristina	Rape	X	1965	Los Angeles, CA	2014	Claims Cosby invited her to a "party" at his house where she was the only guest. Cosby then allegedly drugged and raped her.
Serignese, Therese*	Rape	X	1976	Las Vegas, NV	2005	Claims Cosby randomly approached her in the Vegas hotel where he was performing, gave her Quaaludes and then raped her. Cosby admitted under oath he made repeated payments to her after the incident, though he asserts it was consensual.
Green, Tamara*	Sexual Assault	X	1970s	Los Angeles, CA	2005	Was feeling ill one day while working at Cosby's restaurant Cafe Figaro. Cosby allegedly offered her a "decongestant" then drove her to his house, where he attempted to rape her. Green alleges she was conscious enough to fight back. Was the only witness in Constand's case to be publicly named at the time.
Ferrier, Beth*	Other	X	1980s	Denver, CO	2005	Ferrier says she had been in a consensual relationship with Cosby for several months, but some time after breaking up, she says he drugged her when she visited him before a performance in Denver. She claimed she woke up in a car in a parking lot with her clothes disheveled, after Cosby offered her a cup of coffee the night before.
Tarshis, Joan	Rape	X	1969	Los Angeles, CA	1980s	Claims Cosby mixed her a drink while they were working together, and awoke to Cosby raping her. Originally told her story to a reporter in the 1980s who declined to publish it.
Valentino, Victoria	Rape	X	1970	Los Angeles, CA	1996	Claims Cosby offered her pills before driving her to his home. Conscious but too drugged to move, she alleges Cosby turned her over and raped her. Valentino's friend confirmed she detailed the incident to her immediately after it happened. She also mentioned it in a videotaped interview in 1996.
Dickinson, Janice	Rape	X	1982	Lake Tahoe, NV	2002	Claims Cosby had been following her career and invited her to his hotel immediately after she got out of rehab for drug addiction. Alleges Cosby gave her wine and a pill, and awoke to him raping her. Provided her story in 2002 for her autobiography but her publisher cut it in fear of being sued. Also made vague allegations in a 2006 interview with Howard Stern, saying she could not go into too much detail because she feared being targeted by Cosby.
Ferrigno, Carla	Attempted Assault		1967	Los Angeles, CA	2014	Claims that while on a date with a man claiming to work in the record industry, she was taken to a party at Cosby's house, after which her date and Cosby's wife left, leaving the two alone. Alleges Cosby then forcefully grabbed and kissed her, repeatedly attempting to get her to have a drink before she insisted on leaving.
Traitz, Linda Joy	Sexual Assault	X	1969	Los Angeles, CA	2014	Claims that Cosby offered to give her a ride home after her shift at his restaurant, Cafe Fiagro. Alleges that Cosby instead drove her to a secluded area and opened a briefcase full of pills, groped her, and insisted on her taking one of the pills; she declined and demanded to be driven home.
Hill, Renita Chaney	Child Sexual Abuse	X	1982	Pittsburgh, PA	2014	Claims that while being involved with Cosby's children's show Picture Pages, at the age of 15, Cosby made her consume drinks that would make her unconscious until the next day; when she complained about the drinks, Cosby said that was the only way she could continue seeing him. Claims she has one memory of Cosby kissing her before she passed out. Cosby paid for her college tuition.
Leslie, Angela	Sexual Assault		1992	Las Vegas, NV	2014	Claims that during an acting audition in Cosby's Las Vegas hotel room, Cosby told her to sip from a drink and act intoxicated, although she only pretended to sip it. He then allegedly stripped and forced Leslie's hand on his penis but told her to leave when she resisted. Afterward, she received regular payments from Cosby.
Covington, Lachele	Sexual Assault		2000	New York, NY	2000	Claims that after working as an extra on Cosby, she visited Cosby's townhouse for career advice, where he attempted to put her hand on his genitals. Covington reported the allegation to the NYPD three days later but no charges were filed.
Leary Steuer, Patricia*	Sexual Assault	X	1978, 1980	Shelburne Falls, MA; Atlantic City, NJ	2015	Claims Cosby invited her to a party at his house, but she was the only guest. After having a drink, claims she woke up not remembering what happened. In a similar incident 2 years later, she woke up fully naked.
Kirkpatrick, Linda	Sexual Assault	X	1981	Las Vegas, NV	2015	Claims that after being invited backstage to Cosby's Las Vegas show, he handed her a drink causing her to blackout with intermittent memories of Cosby trying to mount her.
Brown, Linda	Sexual Assault	X	1969	Toronto, ON	2015	Claims after having dinner with Cosby, he insisted on taking her to his hotel, where he offered her a soda. Alleges she then woke up naked as Cosby began to assault her "like a real-life blow-up doll."
Thompson, Kaya	Sexual Assault		1980s	New York, NY	2015	Claims that on the set of The Cosby Show, Cosby forced himself on her and told her to use a bottle of Lubriderm to pleasure him. He offered her $700 as she left.
Welles, Sunni	Sexual Assault	X	1960s	Los Angeles, CA	2015	Claims that Cosby offered her drinks at a jazz club, then remembers only waking up naked the next day. Unsure what happened, alleges she accepted another invitation to meet Cosby where she again had a drink and then woke up naked.
"Kacey"	Sexual Assault	X	1996	Los Angeles, CA	2015	Claims after a long-running professional relationship with Cosby, on one occasion he insisted she take a white pill to help her relax. Alleges she blacked out and awoke next to Cosby in bed. Came forward in 2015 under condition of anonymity and an assumed name.
Lasha, Chelan	Sexual Assault	X	1986	Las Vegas, NV	2014	Claims Cosby offered to help her pursue a modeling career; alleges Cosby lured her to his hotel room, offered her an "antihistamine" and a shot of Amaretto, which knocked her unconscious as Cosby began humping her. Gave her $1500 when she woke up and left.
Hayes, Helen	Other		1973	Pebble Beach, CA	2014	Claims that after attending the 1973 Celebrity Tennis Tournament, Cosby stalked her throughout the evening until eventually confronting her and groping her breasts. Not to be confused with the actress Helen Hayes
Thomas, Heidi	Rape	X	1984	Reno, NV	2015	Claims that during an audition, Cosby instructed her to sip a drink and act intoxicated. After sipping the drink, alleges she became unconscious and awoke to Cosby performing oral sex.
Masten, PJ	Rape	X	1979	Chicago, IL	2014	Claims Cosby invited her to dinner where he offered her a cocktail, knocking her unconscious and waking up later in Cosby's bed naked and bruised. Alleges she believes she was raped. Claims after she confronted management at the Playboy club, her supervisor said, "shut your mouth."
Butterfield, Sarita	Other		1977	Shelburne Falls, MA	2014	Claims that Cosby cornered her at a party and groped her breasts but she was able to fend off further advances.
Baker-Kinney, Janice	Rape	X	1982	Las Vegas, NV	2015	Claims that a friend invited her to a party at Cosby's residence, where they were the only guests. Alleges that Cosby offered her a drink, causing her to blackout as her friend was leaving. Claims she awoke naked in bed next to Cosby, who was also naked.
Burns, Autumn	Rape	X	1970	Las Vegas, NV	2015	Claims that while working at a Vegas casino, Cosby approached her to help her break into the entertainment industry. Alleges he invited her to his hotel suite where he offered her a drink, causing her to feel heavily drugged as Cosby had forcible oral sex.
Bernard, Lili	Rape	X	1990s	New York, NY	2015	Claims that after forming a friendship with Cosby as a guest star on The Cosby Show, he offered her a drugged drink and raped her, then said that she was dead to him.
Mays, Sammie	Sexual Assault	X	1987	Las Vegas, NV	2015	Claims that Cosby invited her to his suite while she was attending a TV industry conference in Vegas; once alone, she alleges Cosby offered a drink which caused her to black out and awake to find her bra disheveled and Cosby standing over her.
Shapiro, Margie	Rape	X	1975	Santa Monica, CA	2015	Claims Cosby randomly invited her to a party and later a personal visit to the Playboy Mansion, after seeing her in a doughnut shop. At the Playboy Mansion, alleges Cosby played a game where she would have to swallow a pill. Claims she regained consciousness while Cosby was raping her.
Emmons, Joyce	Other	X	1979-1980	Las Vegas, NY	2014	Claims that during Cosby's appearance at her comedy club, he offered her a pill to help with her headache. Alleges the next thing she remembers was waking up naked with Cosby's friend and when confronted, Cosby said he gave her a Quaalude. Further asserts that Cosby had repeatedly offered to show off his large collection of drugs to her, even though he never took any drugs himself.
Neal, Rebecca Lynn	Rape	X	1986	Las Vegas, NV	2015	Claims Cosby repeatedly visited the health club where she worked and invited her to his show; upon accepting, alleges that Cosby gave her a shot of Stoli, which rendered her disoriented but still conscious while Cosby raped her, ignoring her weakened pleas to tell him to stop. Says Cosby never visited her health club again.
Allison, Jewel	Rape	X	1990	New York, NY	2015	Claims Cosby invited her to his NYC townhouse for dinner, where he offered her a glass of wine. Alleges the next thing she remembers was seeing semen on the floor as Cosby helped escort her outside into a cab. Gained distinction for being one of the few African American women to accuse Cosby.
Lublin, Lise-Lotte	Rape	X	1989	Las Vegas, NV	2015	Claims that during an audition in Cosby's hotel suite, he offered her two shots of liquor, causing her to black out and awaken to Cosby straddling her. Has helped champion new Nevada legislation to extend statute of limitation on rape cases.
Ladd, Cindra	Rape	X	1969	New York, NY	2015	As a friend of Cosby, claims that she once complained of a headache, to which Cosby responded by offering a pill. Alleges the next thing she remembers is waking up naked with Cosby standing nearby in a robe. As a respected philanthropist and powerful media executive, she became a noteworthy counterbalance to critics who claimed Cosby accusers were seeking money or fame.
Gumpel, Helen	Attempted Assault		1987	New York, NY	2015	Claims that after being called back for a potentially second appearance on The Cosby Show, Cosby invited her into his dressing room and made repeated advances on her, attempting to get her to have a drink. She declined and did not appear on any future episodes.
McKee, Kathy	Rape		1973	Detroit, MI	2014	Claims that after knowing Cosby personally for eight years, he invited her to his Detroit hotel room where he spun her around and penetrated her.
Fox, Charlotte	Rape		1970s	Los Angeles, CA	2015	Claims that while working on Uptown Saturday Night, she was invited to a party at the Playboy Mansion hosted by Cosby. After drinking at the club, began to feel "incapacitated" as Cosby raped her. Did not explicitly accuse Cosby of drugging her.
Tate, Marcella	Rape	X	1975	Los Angeles, CA	2015	Claims that Cosby offered her a drink during a party at the Playboy Mansion, after which she blacked out and woke up in a bed next to Cosby, who was naked.
Brown, Shawn	Rape	X	1970s	San Antonio, TX	1990s	Cosby admitted to his extramarital affair with Brown in the 1990s. She alleged in 2014 that despite their consensual sex, she was not "freaky enough" for him so on one occasion he insisted she drink alcohol and smoke marijuana, leading her to black out while he raped her.
Jones, Lisa	Attempted Assault	X	1986	New York, NY	2014	Met Cosby when she was 17 and alleges that after she turned 18, Cosby invited her to New York to audition for The Cosby Show where he offered her alcohol and then began trying to spread her legs apart. Claims she was able to escape to avoid further assault.
Huth, Judith	Child Sexual Abuse	X	1974	Los Angeles, CA	2014	Claims that at the age of 15, she wandered onto a movie set where Cosby was working. Alleges Cosby took her to his house and plied her with drinks, then to the Playboy Mansion where he instructed her to tell people she was 19, then took her to a room where he masturbated himself with her hands. Because it is an alleged child sexual abuse case, statute of limitations began when Huth realized the trauma as an adult. An LAPD investigation resulted in no criminal charges; a civil case is currently underway.
Tirl, Eden	Rape		1990	New York, NY	2015	The former actress who guest starred as a police officer on The Cosby Show in 1990, said she was pulled off the set during a taping of the show and groped by Cosby inside his dressing room. Tirl said she later told two of the show’s staffers what happened, but was ignored.
"Elizabeth"	Rape	X	1976	Los Angeles, CA	2015	Claims she met Cosby while working as a flight attendant and accepted an offer for dinner, where Cosby gave her a glass of sake, causing her to fall into a "trance-like state" where Cosby forced her to perform a sex act she described as "the most horrifying thing that could happen to an innocent young woman." Came forward in 2015 under condition of anonymity and an assumed name.
T., Jena	Sexual Assault		1988	New York, NY	2015	Claims Cosby started paying an unwanted amount of attention to her while working as a model at age 17-18. Alleges that after she voiced her concerns to Cosby, he offered to buy her a car and then eventually forced her into unspecified sexual activity, giving her $700 as she left.
"Lisa"	Sexual Assault	X	1988	New York, NY	2015	Claims Cosby invited her to his home while she was trying to further her modeling career. Alleges Cosby offered her a shot of alcohol, causing her to feel dizzy and out of control while Cosby began petting her as she blacked out. Came forward in 2015 under condition of anonymity and an assumed name.
Hurd, Michelle	Attempted Assault		1995	New York, NY	2014	Claims Cosby invited her to his dressing room for acting exercises while working on The Cosby Mysteries. Alleges that some exercises involved inappropriate touching of her body, leading to Cosby to invite her to his home and take a shower. Hurd says she refused and claims Cosby told her to never tell anyone about their acting exercises.
Constand, Andrea	Sexual Assault	X	2004	Philadelphia, PA	2005	Cosby invited Constand to his house to discuss career goals after meeting her at Temple University. He provided her pills to relax her anxiety, which he claimed were Benadryl. Afterward, he fondled her and digitally penetrated her, according to his own sworn testimony though he claims it was consensual. Constand alleged sexual abuse to the local police, who decided not to file charges against Cosby. Constand then filed a civil lawsuit where 13 other women came forward to allege similar abuse. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
Goins, Chloe	Sexual Assault	X	2008	Los Angeles, CA	2014	Claims that Cosby drugged and assaulted her while she was at the Playboy Mansion. The case is currently with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for potential prosecution.
Christie, Lisa	Attempted Assault		1989	Chicago, IL	2015	Claims that after years of seeing Cosby as a mentor, he offered to audition her for the movie Ghost Dad in his hotel room, when Cosby attempted to kiss her "like a boyfriend" and said he would give her "the biggest orgasm" of her life. When she refused, Cosby told her she'd "never make it in this business" unless she slept with him. Christie went on to be Mrs. America less than 10 years later.
Abeyta, Pamela	Rape	X	1979	Las Vegas, NV	2015	Claims Cosby offered to help her with her ambitions to become a Playboy model; while having dinner with Cosby, alleges she drank something that caused her to pass out, and when she awoke there were three naked men near her, including Cosby.
Van Ert, Sharon	Sexual Assault	X	1976	Redondo Beach, CA	2015	Claims Cosby gave her something to drink while she was working at a jazz club, then walked her out to her car when he said she needed to "sober up." She alleges Cosby then began caressing her before she blacked out, and when she woke up realized her panties were missing.
Doe, Jane (Multiple)*	Other	X	Varied	Varied	2005	Numerous witnesses who agreed to testify in Andrea Constand's 2005 civil suit have not yet come forward publicly. Due to active lawsuits seeking to unseal further details in that case, some Jane Doe witnesses have been contacted in attempts to allow their identities to be revealed.
"Sandy"	Rape	X	1980	Las Vegas, NV	2014	TV host Charlotte Laws claims her close friend, whom she referred to as "Sandy" in a Salon article, had a consensual sexual relationship with Cosby, but was alarmed one morning when she realized Cosby had intentionally drugged her the night before and had sex while she was unconscious. "Sandy" said she could not understand because she would have had no issues having consensual sex with him. Laws further stated that when Constand's allegations came forward in 2005, he joked about whether or not he had ever drugged her.
Myers, Cynthia	Other	X	< 1997	Los Angeles, CA	< 2011	Prior to Myers's death in 2011, she provided interviews for the book Centerfolds which was released in 2015. In these undated interviews, Myers claimed she personally witnessed Cosby "use drugs to have sex with women" at the Playboy Mansion stating that his actions repulsed her so much, she was unable to "shed a tear" when Cosby's son Ennis was murdered in 1997.
Kemp, Charlotte	Attempted Assault	X	1980s	Los Angeles, CA	2014	Claims that she was with Victoria Valentino on the night Cosby raped her. Alleges she received drinks from Cosby along with Valentino, but passed out in Cosby's home and later left with Valentino before Cosby assaulted her.
Dottye	Rape	X	1984	New York, NY	2015	Claims that Cosby invited her to his New York apartment to audition for The Cosby Show, where he drugged and raped her. Came forward on condition of only being identified by her first name.
Barrett, Donna	Sexual Assault		2004	Philadelphia, PA	2015	Claims that during a photo shoot with her track team at the University of Pennsylvania, Cosby grabbed her and forcefully pressed his body against hers.

^* Witness in 2005 Constand civil case

References For Accuser Table:

See also

• Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal (British entertainment personality accused of numerous sex crimes)

Further reading

• Excerpts From Bill Cosby’s Deposition in the Andrea Constand case

External links

• Viral video referencing the sexual assault allegations by comedian Hannibal Buress, October 2014
• Social media site dedicated to alleged victims of Bill Cosby