Bill Cosby released: Actor speaks out on his ‘innocence’ after sex assault conviction overturned

Phylicia Rashad has updated her statement around Bill Cosby's overturned conviction.

The actor and comedian's former Cosby Show co-star took to social media to write, “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.”

Rashad's name began trending on Twitter on Wednesday after she posted support for Cosby, writing, “FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!”

Soon after his release from prison, Bill Cosby — or someone in his camp — shared a new statement on the actor and comedian’s social media platforms.

“I have never changed my stance nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence,” the statement read. The statement included an image of Cosby punching the air.

“Thank you to all my fans, supporters and friends who stood by me through this ordeal. Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law.”

The Cosby Show actorPhylicia Rashad, who played Bill Cosby’s wife on the long-running sitcom, has posted on Twitter that she supports survivors of sexual assault after her earlier post celebrating her former co-star’s release from prison sparked a social media backlash.

Kevin E G Perry has the story.

The lawyer, who represents a number of the “prior bad acts” witnesses who testified against Bill Cosby, said although he would likely not face additional criminal charges he “is not home free.”

She told a virtual press conference that the ruling to overturn the tv star’s criminal conviction for sexual assault means that a California lawsuit against him can now move forwards.

Ms Allred represents a woman who claims that she was assaulted by Mr Cosby at the age of 15.

“I’m looking forward to taking his deposition and really getting all the answers that we seek,” said Ms Allred.

Lise-Lotte Lublin has accused Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1989 when she was 23 years old.

“This just means something went wrong in the system,” Ms Lublin told CNN.

“This a part of why we fight to change laws to change statute of limitations. Why would anyone even have a statute on personal harm?”

And she added: “He’s not innocent. He’s a notorious rapist and he just got away with it.”

Mr Cosby was convicted in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in 2004.

But Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court overturned it saying that because of a deal with a previous prosecutor he should never have been charged over the incident.

The actress took to Twitter and wrote: “I am furious to hear this news. I personally know women who this man drugged and raped while unconscious.

“Shame on the court and this decision … I don’t want to hear anything about how cancel culture ruined men’s lives during the MeToo era reckoning for women and survivors. How we went too far.

“Today’s news that Cosby’s conviction is being overturned is proof we haven’t gone far enough. Our justice system MUST change.”

Jennifer Storm supported five women who made claims against Mr Cosby, including Andrea Constand, during the court process.

“These are the faces that matter today. The sheroes who suffered his hands, his power and his celebrity status, yet, still they stood firm in their truth. The facts of his crimes are not up for debate here,” she tweeted.

Mr Cosby had been ordered to pay Montgomery County its trial costs, that now he will never have to pay, according to FOX Business.

A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office told the channel that Mr Cosby had been ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, which were $76,077.79, following his 2018 conviction.

But Mr Cosby has never paid those costs, and the order has now been vacated, the spokesperson confirmed.

Mr Castor decided not to prosecute Mr Cosby in 2005 after Andrea Constand made a criminal report against the TV star for drugging and sexually assaulting her at his mansion the year before.

Now he has backed his decision in an interview with NBC 10 Philadelphia.

The Supreme Court overturned Mr Cosby’s 2018 conviction for sexual assault because of a deal he made with Mr Castor that they ruled should have prevented him being charged in the case.

“There were a lot of things that led me at the time to think that a prosecution would be problematic and unprovable,” he said.