Tony Winner Phylicia Rashad Breaks Silence on Bill Cosby Abuse Claims

In an interview with Showbiz 411's Roger Friedman, Phylicia Rashad finally broke her silence on the multitude of sexual abuse allegations against her COSBY SHOW co-star Bill Cosby. Rashad, who portrayed Cosby's fictional wife Clair Huxtable on the long-running NBC comedy, stood up for her co-star, advising him to "forget these women."

The Tony winner revealed that in the 10 seasons that she worked with the comic, she had never seen behaviors that would support the abuse allegations. Said Rashad, "What you're seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it's orchestrated. I don't know why or who's doing it, but it's the legacy. And it's a legacy that is so important to the culture."

The 66-year-old went on to theorize, "Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV. And it's worked. All his contracts have been canceled." She also shared her disappointment that the legacy of the Cosby Show itself has been damaged, noting that the family-friendly comedy, once loved by millions, is now "being destroyed." Asked why she believed Cosby himself has not come forward with a statment on the abuse charges, Rashad conjectured,
"If he spoke now, what do you think the media would do with it?"

Recently, Keshia Knight Pulliam, who portrayed Cosby's fictional daughter Rudy on the comedy, also came to the comedian's defense. "Unfortunately, in the court of public opinion everyone has formed their opinion, but we're still in America and you're innocent until proven guilty of any crimes," said the actress.

Rashad's Broadway credits include August Osage County, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Cymbeline, (Lincoln Center Theatre), August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean (Tony nomination), A Raisin in the Sun (Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Into the Woods, Dreamgirls, The Wiz. Off-Broadway: The Story, Helen, Everybody's Ruby, Blue, Bernarda Alba. Regional theater: Every Tongue Confess, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Medea. Films: Good Deeds. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, Frankie and Alice, Just Wright, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, Loving Jezebel, The Visit.

Films for TV: Steel Magnolias, A Raisin In The Sun(NAACP Image Award, Emmy and SAG nominations) The Old Settler, Free of Eden. TV series: The Cosby Show, Cosby. BFA degree from the College of Fine Arts at Howard University.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos