Never in a million years would I see this one coming. Michael Jackson, well, that was to be expected. Bill Clinton? We all thought that he was having a little fling. But Bill Cosby? Just say it ain’t so.
For those who don’t see the link between Jack-o, Slick Willy and the Cos, I’ll provide a bit of background. The latest reports show that a “female acquaintance” has accused Mr. Huxtable of sexual misconduct in a suburb of Philadelphia, where he has a home.
Sexual misconduct? Or better yet, what his attorney Walter Phillips has described as “inappropriate touching.” Fantastic, he’s truly even more of a role model for the teens of America. I mean, kids need something to aspire to, why not allegations of sexual no-nos?
No charges have been filed against Cosby for the incident said to have happened a year ago. Very little information has been released on the incident as of yet due to the pending investigation, but we all know how bad this could be.
Just look at what it did to the reputation of priests in Massachusetts. Sure makes me want to run and sign my future sons up (this is a theoretical) as altar boys.
Honestly, this is just disturbing. I know everyone is human, but someone like Bill Cosby that has been a staple icon for my generation (at least in my eyes), come on. It’s like telling us every day that Santa is not only fake, but that our parents don’t love us anymore and Aunt Mary is really my sister.
Cosby was loved not only for “The Cosby Show” in original form but also the remake, Fat Albert stories throughout the years, JELL-O commercials with the memories of JELL-O Jigglers resonating in my head and Kids Say the Darndest Things. And now, instead of dominating the TV ratings, he has been doing work with the community.
Good work with the community at that, helping teens go to college, fighting to curb street violence, all positive promos. And look where all of this got him, whether the accusations are substantiated or not.
But, unfortunately, this isn’t the first celebrity from our childhood to get a bad rap. Do I even need to go into Pee Wee Herman’s rap sheet?
The increasing prevalence of celebrities racking up the sexual wrong-doings on their records is just depressing. Bad enough those out of the public eye are knowingly engaging in such acts, but for people who know they’re always being scrutinized — be a bit more conscious.
So many reputations have been tainted by affairs that it’s almost becoming a running joke.
And to make it worse, the general public isn’t as appalled as they once were.
Instead of being a hot controversy, in most cases I’ve observed scandals like this become the gossip of the office or apartment.
People thrive off it, and I can’t say I’m an exception. It’s humorous to an extent to see these people that make millions upon millions of dollars getting caught so easily. I mean, what are they expecting, for the press to just look away and say “Hey, it happens.”
Hardly. We all know this. Nonetheless, a part of me does feel bad for those people, especially someone like Cosby. He hasn’t, to my knowledge, been cast in this light before. He’s not a “repeat offender” (we hope) and genuinely works for the betterment of teens in this country. He doesn’t own an estate called “Neverland” designed, in my eyes, for the sheer purpose of luring children inside. He tours different schools and places speaking out against the wrongs America has become synonymous with. Better yet, he holds a place near and dear to the hearts of those who grew up to recognize that laugh of his instantaneously.
Needless to say, any continued coverage of this incident, granted it is substantiated, will leave some people in the world a bit sadder.
In the meantime, I’ll stick to my “Cosby Show” re-runs, in a way showing my support, not to syndication, but to the man himself. I’ll make sure I sit down with a bowl of JELL-O before seeing if there are any updates, so that if I find any surprises, I can console myself with that gelatinous sugar-water.
– Kaitlin Thaney can be reached at [email protected]
