Beverly Johnson on Latest Cosby Revelations: 'Unfortunate' It Took This Long to Believe Accusers
Bill Cosby's representatives have finally responded to yesterday's release of a 2005 deposition in which Bill Cosby admitted to buying quaaludes for the purpose of drugging women for sex. The shocking testimony was taken during a lawsuit brought on by Andrea Constand, the first woman to come forward with accusations of rape against the comedian. The lawsuit was settled out of court.
"The only reason Mr. Cosby settled was because it would have been embarrassing in those days to put all those women on the stand and his family had no clue. That would have been very hurtful," Cosby's spokesperson tells ABC.
Meanwhile, supermodel Beverly Johnson, the highest-profile person to accuse Cosby of attempted rape, released a lengthy statement in light of the recent news. "It is unfortunate the amount of proof required to make a woman's voice valid," she begins, adding that society must think of "the lesson we are teaching children about the worth of a woman's body."
She adds, "as this conversation on Cosby's actions continues, I hope that anyone with kids is thinking of teaching them that no one has the right to another's body or sexuality."
Among Cosby's most shocking admissions in the deposition is that he drugged a 19-year-old girl with quaaludes during a trip to Las Vegas to have sex with her. "I can’t judge at this time what she knows about herself for 19 years, a passive personality," said Cosby by way of rationalizing the incident.
Cosby also revealed in the deposition that he offered to give Constand, the woman who sued him, money — but only if she used it toward her education and maintained a 3.0 GPA.
Interestingly, Cosby's longtime attorney Marty Singer — who has always been proactive about issuing statements throughout the scandal — has remained silent in the wake of this recent news. Could this mean trouble in Camp Cosby?
(Photos from left: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)