Phylicia Rashad, who played Bill Cosby's on-screen wife for eight seasons on the "Cosby Show," she was misquoted when trying to defend her former co-star regarding his recent sexual abuse scandal.
During a luncheon for the movie "Selma," the 66-year-old Tony-winning actress was saying, "forget these women" as she came to Cosby's defense after over a dozen women accused the 77-year-old comedian of either rape or sexual assault in the 1970's and 1980's.
Rashad clarified her comments during an interview with Linsey Davis of ABC World News Tonight on Wednesday.
"That was a misquote," Rashad said. "That is not what I said. What I said is, 'this is not about the women. This is about something else. This is about the obliteration of legacy. I am a woman. I would never say such a thing."
As for Cosby, the actress spoke highly of her former television husband, saying, "He's a genius. He is generous. He is kind. He's inclusive. What has happened is declaration in the media of guilt without proof. And a legacy is being destroyed because of it. It's being obliterated."
During the luncheon, Rashad suggested that the recent scandal was a plot to ruin Cosby's reputation. Despite returning to the stage on Wednesday for the first time since November, many of the actor's stand-up comedy appearances have been cancelled.
"Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV," she told Showbiz 411's Roger Friedman. "And it's worked. All his contracts have been cancelled... This show represented America to the outside world. This was the American family. And now you're seeing it being destroyed. Why?"
