Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Entertainment
Entertainment

Jill Scott Defends Bill Cosby, Who Resigns From Temple University Board

Posted byBy Thomas L. Scott | Published on: CommentsComments (2)

ABS_ Cosby Jill ScottJill Scott went back and forth with a few of her Twitter followers Monday who could not believe the star singer and actor would stand up for the reputation of embattled comedian Bill Cosby, even as more women come forward alleging that he sexually assaulted them.

Scott and Cosby are both from Philadelphia, Pa., and attended Temple University before their careers took off. Cosby, who earned his Bachelor in Arts degree from the university, introduced Scott at the commencement ceremony earlier this year when she received her honorary degree.

Scott said she isn’t taking sides, but she’s also not going to automatically disregard what Cosby has done without proof.

Cosby, who was a member of the board of trustees at Temple University for 32 years, resigned on Monday.  “I have always been proud of my association with Temple University. I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students. As a result, I have tendered my resignation from the Temple University board of trustees,” Cosby said in a statement Monday afternoon.

The board also issued a statement Monday, accepting Cosby’s resignation and thanking him for his service.

Chairman of the board of trustees Patrick O’Connor said that Cosby called him on Monday to inform him of his plans to resign, Reuters reported.

“He didn’t want his personal issue to detract from his service to Temple,” O’Connor said in a phone interview with Reuters.

At least 17 women have accused Cosby of sexually assaulting them, according to CNN.

In the wake of these allegations, Cosby has had some of his tour performances cancelled. He agreed to refund ticket holders for his two shows in Tarrytown, N.Y., on Dec. 6, according to the White Plains Daily Voice. NBC dropped a sitcom they were planning to have Cosby star in, Netflix cancelled the Nov. 27 premiere of a comedy special and TV Land has stopped playing reruns of “The Cosby Show.”

Cosby remains silent on the matter and hasn’t publicly addressed the series of allegations against him.

Still independent.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top