Lessons from Bill Cosby

I have, until now not commented on the American comedian Bill Cosby’s sexual assault accusations that continue to make headlines. A 78-year-old facing rape charges from over 50 women who claim to have been too scared to lay formal charges arguing that because of his mega status then, the cases would have never been believed, let alone seen the light of justice.

I feel for these women, and I eagerly wait for their day in court with full evidence. All of them have one story, a typical same script different player scenario. They alleged that Cosby indulged himself to their bodies by drugging their drinks and having his way. They, apparently were too weak to fight back, but were able to see Cosby do things to them or awake naked in his bed the following day, with bodily pains.

I know one of the accusers who claimed to have fought Cosby by standing up to him before carnal knowledge and fled the impending abuse, although she allegedly passed out for three consecutive days after the episode, from alleged drug effects. Sounds scripted, but they swear to their testimonies.

I have loads of questions and I’m sure I’m not alone. I shall not dwell on that aspect of my simple, layman analysis or attempt to wade through the graphics, but watching further a documentary on Investigation Discovery Extra during the week, I learnt a lesson worth sharing. Listening to the testimonies of some of Cosby’s alleged victims; I was left with one conclusion. As women we are suckers for wealth, fame and power. We will not hesitate any luring from the caliber of men with these attributes with little consideration to the consequences. These consequences range in magnitude and colour and in Cosby’s allegations, rape.

Almost all the women that were interviewed in the Vanity Fair Confidential programme alluded to the fact that Cosby invited them on either coffee, a set of his movie, offer of stardom or some form of a hang out before drugging their drinks and well, molesting them thereafter.

Easy to judge for someone who has never experienced it and I will not attempt it. I only believe that Cosby managed to allegedly do what he did because of his status. None of the women failed to resist his fame, fortune and power amassed from the film industry and may have had their own sinister plans up their sleeves. The way I know women, they always seize an opportunity to ‘milk’ the rich for their own benefit, but, if indeed the actor succeeded in having his way with them, I would say they were simply beaten to their game.

Haven’t their mamas taught them to stay away from strangers? Does a famous person cease to be a stranger and become suddenly familiar to even accord him a date, no matter how casual? Would Cosby have succeeded in his lusts had he been a pauper? Again, why wait all these years to lay such claims, I mean, none of the over 50 women gathered the courage or dared challenge the system to get justice except when one decides to come out of the shell? One of them, an employee of a coffee shop, said she saw an opportunity to hang out with a famous person when he approached her. Really?

Ladies, resist the temptation to date the rich and treat them as the strangers that they are. Power will not benefit you, just the person holding it and you may just hang in his shadows. How many of us would have resisted Cosby, now or then? I only hope that our victims were not hoping for some lucrative apology from Cosby over the years only to realise that the clock is fast ticking. The dude, at 78 may never reconsider; hence, the panic. God help us. n