HABANG naglalabasan ang patung-patong na akusasyon na ipinupukol sa komedyanteng si Bill Cosby, nagsalita at ipinagtanggol siya ng kanyang asawa na si Camille Cosby, 50, may limang anak kay Bill.

Nagpahayag ng suporta si Camille noong Lunes at sinabing, “I met my husband, Bill Cosby, in 1963, and we were married in 1964. The man I met, and fell in love with, and whom I continue to love, is the man you all knew through his work,” pahayag niya. “He is a kind man, a generous man, a funny man, and a wonderful husband, father and friend. He is the man you thought you knew.

“A different man has been portrayed in the media over the last two months. It is the portrait of a man I do not know. It is also a portrait painted by individuals and organizations whom many in the media have given a pass. There appears to be no vetting of my husband’s accusers before stories are published or aired. An accusation is published, and immediately goes viral.”

Sa kasalukuyan, umaabot sa mahigit dalawampung “accusers” ang may reklamo laban kay Bill. Matatandaan na noong isang linggo, ang supermodel na si Beverly Johnson ay lumiham tungkol sa naranasan niya sa The Cosby Show tatlong dekada na ang nakalilipas. Gayunman, ikinumpara ni Camille ang coverage ng kanyang asawa sa Rolling Stone University of Virginia rape story.

“We all followed the story of the article in Rolling Stone concerning allegations of rape at the University of Virginia. The story was heart-breaking, but ultimately appears to be proved to be untrue,” pahayag ni Camille. “Many in the media were quick to link that story to stories about my husband — until that story unwound.

“None of us will ever want to be in the position of attacking a victim,” pagtatapos ni Camille. “But the question should be asked — who is the victim?”

Halos dalawang buwang nanahimik si Bill habang dumadami ang mga reklamong ibinabato sakanya. Pero nitong Biyernes, binasag na ni Bill ang katahimikan at sinabing “Let me say this. I only expect the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism and when you do that you have to go in with a neutral mind,” pahayag ni Cosby, 77.