Audrey Ignatoff
Bill Cosby: hype or hypocrisy?
By Audrey Ignatoff
I have a different take on the whole Bill Cosby matter than most. When I worked, I never socialized with clients or business associates. I always met them in their office or mine during business hours. As a consultant, I did arrange sometimes to meet people in a public place like a restaurant for lunch or coffee, but never dinner. Once, I was asked to show a doctor around New York City for the weekend who was arriving from California. I refused this assignment even though it might have hurt my standing with my employer. I thought that it may lead to unpleasant assumptions on the doctor's part. Also, when I was a delegate to the New York State Governor's Conference on Aging, I refused an invitation at the Governor's mansion for a party the night before the event. I was there on business, and I was all business!
When a woman meets a man in his hotel room or home alone, she is sending a clear message to him that she is open for sexual encounters. When a woman meets a man in these circumstances to discuss business or advancing her career, etc. this is questionable, and could be considered trading services.
I don't doubt that Cosby had sexual relations with lots of women as many men do, especially celebrities or other successful men like executives, doctors or lawyers, but to call it rape or molestation is debatable. If Andrea Condstand thought that Cosby molested or raped her, then why did she continue a relationship with him for five or six years? Perhaps these women didn't get what they wanted out of the relationship. I know this opinion would not put me in a good light with many women, but I do feel bad for Cosby losing his standing and image of a great father, educator, and the spokesman for Jello, Kodak, and Coca Cola, as well as losing shows and future contracts.
These women waited many years or even decades to report Cosby for sexual abuse, and it seems incredible that a one minute video with Hannibal Buress brought this to a head. Phylicia Rashad, Cosby's TV wife, stated, "I think that something more or someone may be lurking behind this." "What you're seeing is the destruction of a legacy..." She also indicated that perhaps someone wanted to keep him off television.
Although many liked Cosby, not everyone did. Howard Stern said that he didn't think that Cosby was funny, and Buress obviously thought that he was too arrogant because he put down black people for the way they dressed or for not getting a good education. In addition, Buress thought that Cosby was a rapist. Stern had Buress on his show to discuss the video of Buress speaking about Cosby as a rapist and the viral nature of this video that seemed to provoke about 40 women to come forward against Cosby in a rapid progression.
Bill Cosby has filed a lawsuit against Andrea Constand because she allegedly violated the confidentially agreement from the case that was settled in 2006 by moving to get the deposition unblocked. In it, he stated that he did use Quaaludes in the '70's to enhance sexual arousal, but only with a woman's consent. He also stated that many others were using this drug at the time. However, this doesn't mean that the pattern continued all through the years. If someone does something at one point, one cannot assume that they will continue to do it forever.
In truth, we still have a system of justice where one is innocent until proven guilty, yet the court of public opinion seems to think that Cosby is "guilty as sin." Only Cosby and these women know the truth, but the public doesn't. In any event, it will be a miracle if Cosby will ever recover his reputation and good name.
© Audrey Ignatoff
July 22, 2015
I have a different take on the whole Bill Cosby matter than most. When I worked, I never socialized with clients or business associates. I always met them in their office or mine during business hours. As a consultant, I did arrange sometimes to meet people in a public place like a restaurant for lunch or coffee, but never dinner. Once, I was asked to show a doctor around New York City for the weekend who was arriving from California. I refused this assignment even though it might have hurt my standing with my employer. I thought that it may lead to unpleasant assumptions on the doctor's part. Also, when I was a delegate to the New York State Governor's Conference on Aging, I refused an invitation at the Governor's mansion for a party the night before the event. I was there on business, and I was all business!
When a woman meets a man in his hotel room or home alone, she is sending a clear message to him that she is open for sexual encounters. When a woman meets a man in these circumstances to discuss business or advancing her career, etc. this is questionable, and could be considered trading services.
I don't doubt that Cosby had sexual relations with lots of women as many men do, especially celebrities or other successful men like executives, doctors or lawyers, but to call it rape or molestation is debatable. If Andrea Condstand thought that Cosby molested or raped her, then why did she continue a relationship with him for five or six years? Perhaps these women didn't get what they wanted out of the relationship. I know this opinion would not put me in a good light with many women, but I do feel bad for Cosby losing his standing and image of a great father, educator, and the spokesman for Jello, Kodak, and Coca Cola, as well as losing shows and future contracts.
These women waited many years or even decades to report Cosby for sexual abuse, and it seems incredible that a one minute video with Hannibal Buress brought this to a head. Phylicia Rashad, Cosby's TV wife, stated, "I think that something more or someone may be lurking behind this." "What you're seeing is the destruction of a legacy..." She also indicated that perhaps someone wanted to keep him off television.
Although many liked Cosby, not everyone did. Howard Stern said that he didn't think that Cosby was funny, and Buress obviously thought that he was too arrogant because he put down black people for the way they dressed or for not getting a good education. In addition, Buress thought that Cosby was a rapist. Stern had Buress on his show to discuss the video of Buress speaking about Cosby as a rapist and the viral nature of this video that seemed to provoke about 40 women to come forward against Cosby in a rapid progression.
Bill Cosby has filed a lawsuit against Andrea Constand because she allegedly violated the confidentially agreement from the case that was settled in 2006 by moving to get the deposition unblocked. In it, he stated that he did use Quaaludes in the '70's to enhance sexual arousal, but only with a woman's consent. He also stated that many others were using this drug at the time. However, this doesn't mean that the pattern continued all through the years. If someone does something at one point, one cannot assume that they will continue to do it forever.
In truth, we still have a system of justice where one is innocent until proven guilty, yet the court of public opinion seems to think that Cosby is "guilty as sin." Only Cosby and these women know the truth, but the public doesn't. In any event, it will be a miracle if Cosby will ever recover his reputation and good name.
© Audrey Ignatoff
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