MadameNoire
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Janet Hubert is one of many to chime in on yesterday’s conversation around Phylicia Rashad’s problematic tweet, expressing relief and happiness over Bill Cosby’s release from prison.
MadameNoire reported on June 30, that Cosby’s sexual assault conviction was overturned by a Philidelphia Supreme Court. The 83-year-old comedian is set to be released after serving two years of his three to ten-year sentence.
While many expressed their discontent for the new ruling — which bars any further prosecution towards Cosby on the case — his former TV wife and longtime friend Rashad spoke out on the news and tweeted:
“FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!”
FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected! pic.twitter.com/NrGUdwr23c
— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021
As you can imagine, many Twitter users were disappointed in Rashad’s decision to once again publicly defend Cosby — a man whom over 60 women have claimed being sexually assaulted by. Especially since Rashad was just named the new dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts, people tweeted things like:
I’m sure Phylicia Rashad being the new dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts will have absolutely no bearing whatsoever on how that program handles student claims of sexual harassment and assault. Yep, nothing to see here, folks. Shut up and dance. https://t.co/MoNjHeFCYW
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) June 30, 2021
Phylicia Rashad, Bill Cosby's show wife on the "Cosby Show" and now, dean of the Howard University College of Fine Arts, celebrates the decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to overturn Cosby's sexual assault conviction. https://t.co/ij7T0g2aAo
— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) June 30, 2021
That Tweet from @PhyliciaRashad is toxic rape enabling at an institutional level. I shudder for the safety of all of the women (and all students, frankly) at @HowardU if this is the public position being taken by an HU dean regarding a man with 50-plus KNOWN victims. Disgraceful. https://t.co/E7n98pFzB4
— Drew Dixon (@deardrewdixon) June 30, 2021
If Phylicia Rashad was gonna pick a hill to die on it had to be this one huh… and she is now a Dean of a school at a University https://t.co/qCghXdOSQA
— Atima Omara (@atima_omara) June 30, 2021
I love @PhyliciaRashad but Howard need to remove her cause how safe would you feel if your dean is defending a man who ADMITTED he drugged and raped women.
— 💫 (@evelynvwoodsen) June 30, 2021
In response to all of the backlash, Rashad followed up her problematic tweet with:
“I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth. Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing.”
I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth. Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing.
— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021
Even though she did a backpedal, folks weren’t having it. That evening, Huber tweeted, ”
Phylicia what are you thinking!!! I don’t know you but to say this was terribly wrong. EVERYONE knew what he was doing back then. How could you NOT! Get your umbrella sista here comes the shit shower. I am outraged that he has been released. Yes, he is an old a*s guilty man!”
“I would have said he’s old he’s out and I’m happy for him, but he still …guilty,” Hubert added later. “I know 5 women who have not come forward. Enough Ya’ll we know better. Powerful men do wrong things, black or white…”
I would have said he's old he's out and I'm happy for him, but he still …guilty. I know 5 women who have not come forward. Enough Ya'll we know better. Powerful men do wrong things, black or white…
— Janet Hubert (@OGJanetHubert) June 30, 2021
