Bill Cosby Responds to Rape Questions with Silence, Head-Shaking
On Saturday, Weekend Edition host Scott Simon ended an interview with Bill and Camille Cosby by asking the comedian point-blank for comment on the accusations by more than a dozen women of sexual assault. In response, Cosby only shook his head.
From NPR's transcript of the segment:
SIMON: This question gives me no pleasure Mr. Cosby, but there have been serious allegations raised about you in recent days.
[SILENCE]
SIMON: You're shaking your head no. I'm in the news business. I have to ask the question. Do you have any response to those charges?
[SILENCE]
SIMON: Shaking your head no. There are people who love you who might like to hear from you about this. I want to give you the chance.
[SILENCE]
Shortly after his Weekend Edition appearance, the Associated Press reported that Cosby's scheduled spot on Wednesday's Late Show with David Letterman had been canceled. This follows a similar cancelation by The Queen Latifah Show last month.
The charges against Cosby have been public for almost a decade, but have received renewed attention after comedian Hannibal Buress called him "a rapist" during a recent stand-up set.
Cosby had originally been invited onto Weekend Edition to discuss his collection of African art.
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