Bill Cosby raped me, why doesn't anyone believe me?

[spuwho]

Per the Washington Post:

Bill Cosby raped me. Why did it take 30 years for people to believe my story?

By Barbara Bowman

In 2004, when Andrea Constand filed a lawsuit against Bill Cosby for sexual assault, her lawyers asked me to testify. Cosby had drugged and raped me, too, I told them. The lawyers said I could testify anonymously as a Jane Doe, but I ardently rejected that idea. My name is not Jane Doe. My name is Barbara Bowman, and I wanted to tell my story in court. In the end, I didn't have the opportunity to do that, because Cosby settled the suit for an undisclosed amount of money.

Over the years, I've struggled to get people to take my story seriously. So last month, when reporter Lycia Naff contacted me for an interview for the Daily Mail, I gave her a detailed account. I told her how Cosby won my trust as a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985, brainwashed me into viewing him as a father figure, and then assaulted me multiple times. In one case, I blacked out after having dinner and one glass of wine at his New York City brownstone, where he had offered to mentor me and discuss the entertainment industry. When I came to, I was in my panties and a man's t-shirt, and Cosby was looming over me. I'm certain that he drugged and raped me. The final incident was in Atlantic City, where we had traveled for industry event. I was staying in a separate bedroom of Cosby's hotel suite, but he pinned me down in his own bed while I screamed for help. I'll never forget the clinking of his belt buckle as he struggled to pull his pants off. I furiously tried to wrestle from his grasp until he eventually gave up, angrily called me "a baby" and sent me home to Denver.

Back then, the incident was so horrifying that I had trouble admitting it to myself, let alone to others. But I first told my agent, who did nothing. (Cosby sometimes came to her office to interview people for "The Cosby Show" and other acting jobs.) A girlfriend took me to a lawyer, but he accused me of making the story up. Their dismissive responses crushed any hope I had of getting help; I was convinced no one would listen to me. That feeling of futility is what ultimately kept me from going to the police. I told friends what had happened, and although they sympathized with me, they were just as helpless to do anything about it. I was a teenager from Denver acting in McDonald's commercials. He was Bill Cosby: consummate American dad Cliff Huxtable and the Jell-O spokesman. Eventually, I had to move on with my life and my career.

I didn't stay entirely quiet, though: I've been telling my story publicly for nearly 10 years. When Constand brought her lawsuit, I found renewed confidence. I was determined to not be silent any more. In 2006, I was interviewed by Robert Huber for Philadelphia Magazine, and Alycia Lane for KYW-TV news in Philadelphia.  A reporter wrote about my experience in the December 2006 issue of People Magazine. And last February, Katie Baker interviewed me for Newsweek. Bloggers and columnists wrote about that story for several months after it was published. Still, my complaint didn't seem to take hold.

Only after a man, Hannibal Buress, called Bill Cosby a rapist in a comedy act last month did the public outcry begin in earnest. The  original video of Buress's performance went viral. This week, Twitter turned against him, too, with a meme that emblazoned rape scenarios across pictures of his face.   

While I am grateful for the new attention to Cosby's crimes, I must ask my own questions: Why wasn't I believed? Why didn't I get the same reaction of shock and revulsion when I originally reported it? Why was I, a victim of sexual assault, further wronged by victim blaming when I came forward? The women victimized by Bill Cosby have been talking about his crimes for more than a decade. Why didn't our stories go viral?

Unfortunately, our experience isn't unique. The entertainment world is rife with famous men who use their power to victimize and then silence young women who look up to them. Even when their victims speak out, the industry and the public turn blind eyes; these men's celebrity, careers, and public adulation continue to thrive. Even now, Cosby has a new comedy special coming out on Netflix and NBC is set to give him a new sitcom.

Fixing this problem demands more than public shaming. For Cosby to commit these assaults against multiple victims over several years, there had to be a network of willfully blind wallflowers at best, or people willing to aid him in committing these sexual crimes at worst. As I told the Daily Mail, when I was a teenager, his assistants transported me to hotels and events to meet him. When I blacked out at Cosby's home, there were several staffers with us. My agent, who introduced me to Cosby, had me take a pregnancy test when I returned from my last trip with him. Talent agents, hotel staff, personal assistants and others who knowingly made arrangements for Cosby's criminal acts or overlooked them should be held equally accountable.

I have never received any money from Bill Cosby and have not asked for it. I have nothing to gain by continuing to speak out. He can no longer be charged for his crimes against me because the statute of limitations is long past. That is also wrong. There should be no time limits on reporting these crimes, and one of my goals is to call for legislation to that end. Famous and wealthy perpetrators use their power to shame and silence their victims. It often takes years for young women to overcome those feeling and gain the confidence to come forward (by which point physical evidence is long gone). Our legal system shouldn't silence them a second time.

Last week, I became a volunteer ambassador for PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment), a national victim advocacy group that seeks to shatter the silence around sexual violence through targeted social, educational and legislative tactics. I will be writing and traveling the country talking to media, students and other interested groups about the importance of speaking out against sexual assault. I'll largely focus on young models and actors who are especially vulnerable to the influences of the rich and powerful. They, like other sexual assault victims, deserve our support. It's the perpetrators who should be facing public humiliation — not the victims.

Editor's note: A representative for Bill Cosby did not return multiple calls and e-mails from Washington Post staff for comment on this piece. Elsewhere, Cosby repeatedly denied separate sexual-assault allegations by Andrea Constand.

[thelakelander]

Hmm....where there's smoke there's fire. Bill must have been pretty busy with the free time he had between blasting African-Americans and making the Cosby Show..... I'll always been weary of people who put themselves on a pedestal while publicly admonishing others instead of quietly rolling up their sleeves to help resolve problems.

[ronchamblin]

Its interesting how some individuals, given any kind of power over others, even temporary power, such as when functioning as a police officer, can become, if not monsters, at least considerably abusive to those whom they are supposed to serve. Even some politicians who look upon themselves as having power over their constituents, will often abuse that power by ignoring the basic reason for their election to office, and will make critical decisions or vote to favor the lobbyists or the already wealthy and powerful -- in return for money directly or for campaigns.

Even some bankers who, by way of having a little power via having funds to lend, often offer the facade of "helping" via financial solutions, are often screwing you by whatever means available to them ... via methods that are too often obscured.

Increasingly in this country ... power and greed ... outright theft ... rules -- beginning at the top both in government and in mega corporate, banking, and wall street.  How can anyone expect the average citizen, the poor and unemployed, and even children, to give great attention to honesty and morality, when so many at the top do not?  How can children, who learn by example, learn good principles from the beasts of greed and dishonesty at the top of government and business?

Power ... greed ... theft ... dishonesty has for too long been the habit.  We've gone downhill.  And apparently will continue so. Where is the strong leadership, showing the way with integrity, with powerful decisions favoring the mass of citizens instead of the rich and powerful? 

[Gamblor]

Love this Hannibal Buress bit on the matter, although they only caught the end bit and not the build up on how there were 13 women (at the time) who had accused Bill of sexual assualt, rape, inappropriate conduct, ect

http://www.youtube.com/v/7P39iZsZ1j8

And just saw this...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/15/bill-cosby-sexual-assault-npr_n_6163658.html

[spuwho]

The fire appears to be growing.

His appearances on David Letterman and Queen Latifah have been cancelled.

[urbanlibertarian]

Its interesting how some individuals, given any kind of power over others, even temporary power, such as when functioning as a police officer, can become, if not monsters, at least considerably abusive to those whom they are supposed to serve. Even some politicians who look upon themselves as having power over their constituents, will often abuse that power by ignoring the basic reason for their election to office, and will make critical decisions or vote to favor the lobbyists or the already wealthy and powerful -- in return for money directly or for campaigns.

Even some bankers who, by way of having a little power via having funds to lend, often offer the facade of "helping" via financial solutions, are often screwing you by whatever means available to them ... via methods that are too often obscured.

Increasingly in this country ... power and greed ... outright theft ... rules -- beginning at the top both in government and in mega corporate, banking, and wall street.  How can anyone expect the average citizen, the poor and unemployed, and even children, to give great attention to honesty and morality, when so many at the top do not?  How can children, who learn by example, learn good principles from the beasts of greed and dishonesty at the top of government and business?

Power ... greed ... theft ... dishonesty has for too long been the habit.  We've gone downhill.  And apparently will continue so. Where is the strong leadership, showing the way with integrity, with powerful decisions favoring the mass of citizens instead of the rich and powerful? 

I share your disgust with people who abuse power which is one reason why I favor increasing everyone's personal freedom.  I don't think things are worse now, at least worldwide, than in the past.

[KenFSU]

I have no idea whether or not Bill Cosby ever raped anyone, but I'm uncomfortable speaking of him as this definitive rapist absent a criminal conviction (or even a civil conviction) or even enough physical evidence to result in criminal charges being filed against him.

The thirteen witnesses against Cosby certainly seem damming, but you also have to at least pause to question why all of these women waited decades to say anything, only coming forward anonymously after a civil lawsuit was put on the table.

So many of these women have accepted cash from Bill Cosby over the years, and so many have continued relations with him after the alleged assaults (even consensual sexual relationships) that it's impossible to know who's telling the truth.

Such a fine line with rape allegations. You want to protect the victims and not be a victim blamer, but rape is such a serious, disgusting charge that you would hope for a presumption of innocence until proven guilty as well.

It's a shame that all thirteen women waited until the statute of limitations had passed to come forward, and it's also unfortunate that the woman who did file a civil suit against him allowed herself to be bought out by Cosby instead of proceeding to court.

[spuwho]

I have no idea whether or not Bill Cosby ever raped anyone, but I'm uncomfortable speaking of him as this definitive rapist absent a criminal conviction (or even a civil conviction) or even enough physical evidence to result in criminal charges being filed against him.

The thirteen witnesses against Cosby certainly seem damming, but you also have to at least pause to question why all of these women waited decades to say anything, only coming forward anonymously after a civil lawsuit was put on the table.

So many of these women have accepted cash from Bill Cosby over the years, and so many have continued relations with him after the alleged assaults (even consensual sexual relationships) that it's impossible to know who's telling the truth.

Such a fine line with rape allegations. You want to protect the victims and not be a victim blamer, but rape is such a serious, disgusting charge that you would hope for a presumption of innocence until proven guilty as well.

It's a shame that all thirteen women waited until the statute of limitations had passed to come forward, and it's also unfortunate that the woman who did file a civil suit against him allowed herself to be bought out by Cosby instead of proceeding to court.

How many people are willing to put up with so much abuse, all in the name of career and possible fame?

Why are they willing to put themselves in harms way by accepting gratuitous travel gifts when it doesn't involve any professional work?

I have admired Mr. Cosby's humor for many years and if he is found guilty in the courts then he should be held accountable.  If he is just another Arnold Schwartzenegger, who likes to prey on female actresses or production assistants, then his behavior will be subject to the judgement of the public space.

It appears the latter has started.

[thelakelander]

Mayor Brown campaign returning Cosby fundraising money

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Money donated during a September fundraising event in New York City hosted by comedian Bill Cosby and attended by Mayor Alvin Brown will be returned, according to his reelection campaign.

Related: NBC cancels planned Cosby sitcom

A spokesperson with Mayor Brown's reelection campaign told First Coast News it will return approximately $19,100 to donors who donated to the "Taking Jacksonville to the Next Level" committee two months ago.

full article: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2014/11/20/bill-cosby-jacksonville-mayor-alvin-brown/70029362/

[Rob68]

So..she claimed he raped her..they offered money and she took it..does she get to keep coming back every few years for more or what..if it were rape theyd have put him in jail or at least  arrested  him..ii she shouldnt have taken the cash if she wasnt going to drop it

[funwithteeth]

Ken, the women kept quiet for as long as they did because of fear and intimidation. I assume each one of them assumed they were the only one this happened to; by themselves none of them had the strength to fight back against someone so rich and powerful.

I stop short of saying "Cosby did this," but the alternative is to give credence to the possibility that this is all coming out now because of a decades-in-the-making conspiracy to bring down Cosby. Which is easier to believe?

[funwithteeth]

So..she claimed he raped her..they offered money and she took it..does she get to keep coming back every few years for more or what..if it were rape theyd have put him in jail or at least  arrested  him..ii she shouldnt have taken the cash if she wasnt going to drop it

Not only do you seem to have no idea of the enormity of this thing, you seem to live in a world where criminal behavior is always punished.

Cool, cool.

[KenFSU]

I stop short of saying "Cosby did this," but the alternative is to give credence to the possibility that this is all coming out now because of a decades-in-the-making conspiracy to bring down Cosby. Which is easier to believe?

Yeah, the more that I read about it, the more that I'm with you. I can't in good conscious call him a rapist without definitive proof, but Occam's razor certainly suggests that if you've got over a dozen disparate women all telling incredibly similar stories, it probably isn't some sweeping, calculated plot to bring down Cliff Huxtable.

[I-10east]

^^^I agree. I'll chalk it up as an infidelity issue and not rape until further notice. There's no one the can tell me that those women looked truthful during those interviews (CNN etc), not to mention waiting decades later to accuse a person. Sadly, many times when women cry rape, the accused is guilty until proven innocent in the court of public opinion.   

[TheCat]

So..she claimed he raped her..they offered money and she took it..does she get to keep coming back every few years for more or what..if it were rape theyd have put him in jail or at least  arrested  him..ii she shouldnt have taken the cash if she wasnt going to drop it

There is more than one woman involved in this equation. One woman, Constand, took a settlement. Another, Bowman, did not.

Read the original post on this thread.