News of disgraced actor and comedian Bill Cosby’s prison release shook social media to the core on Wednesday (June 30). After serving almost three years behind bars, the 83-year-old was set free because of an agreement with a previous prosecutor that prevented him from being charged in the case.
Almost immediately after this shocking news surfaced, friend and “The Cosby Show” co-star Phylicia Rashad voiced how happy she was that he was coming home. “FINALLY!!!!” she tweeted. “A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!”
However, she soon received a great deal of backlash from people on social media who accused her of not believing Cosby’s dozens of survivors. So, Rashad would later add: “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.”
However, this backpedaling didn’t seem to be enough for fellow actress Janet Hubert, who we all love as the OG Aunt Vivian Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” In a couple of tweets aimed at Rashad, Hubert slammed the actress for her initial comments.
“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!” she tweeted. “Get your umbrella sista here comes the shit shower. I am outraged that he has been released. Yes he is an old ass guilty man!”
Hubert continued: “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…”
Check out those messages below.