'Bill Cosby threw me down on his bed and pinned me by my neck. I'll never forget the sound of the clinking of his belt buckle'

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

EXCLUSIVE - 'Bill Cosby threw me down on his bed and pinned me by my neck. I'll never forget the sound of the clinking of his belt buckle': Actress bravely reveals her harrowing years of rape at hands of TV legend

• Barbara Bowman was 17-year-old aspiring actress when Bill Cosby took her under his wing
• In an interview with MailOnline, she relived her ordeal at the hands of Cosby who took advantage of her youth
• 'He went after me in that hotel room like an animal with such force that he couldn't control himself,' she said
• Bowman was elated when Hannibal Buress called Cosby a rapist on stage

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2806437/Bill-Cosby-threw-bed-pinned-neck-ll-never-forget-sound-clinking-belt-buckle-Actress-lifts-lid-harrowing-years-rape-hands-TV-legend.html

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

What is the purpose of posting such inflammatory commentary? To help spread the word of a money-grubbing woman who is just trying to ruin the family of a black man... shameful. Such posts shouldn't be allowed.

[landr 126]

This is like the US-version of Operation Yewtree. Soon there will be no male light entertainers from the 70s/80s left standing on either side of the Atlantic.

I'm still waiting for the DM news headline that Blue Peter was actually a portal to a paedophile ring and the award of the coveted BP badge was actually a euphemism for something more sinister*.

*Joking...but I'm really not.

Edited October 28, 2014 by landr

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think its interesting that this story has appeared in the Daily Mail, a British newspaper, since the UKs defamation laws are quite different. In the US it's almost impossible to win a defamation case since journalists are protected by the first amendment. The UK on the other hand requires journalists to prove that what they wrote about a subject is true, rather than the subject having to refute the journos allegations.

In point of fact, American celebrities have traditionally filed lawsuits against newspapers that have reprinted stories from the US for just this reason. Tom cruise, for example, won damages against The Express a few years ago for alleging that he is gay.

As to this story, in the UK in the last 2-3 years we have seen a number of high profile public figures be accused of sexual assault and rape, household names like Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile. While Harris, a well loved children's TV presenter was shockingly convicted of multiple sexual assaults and raping his daughters underage friend, Savile (who had died by the time allegations surfaced) was never convicted of anything however the sheer volume of allegations and witness statements (literally hundreds) has led to a consensus view that he probably did do it and that others wilfully covered it up.

The woman in this article who accused Cosby of raping her raises an interesting point about this:

"The media creates this idealized image of celebrities: that they are untouchable, that theyre not one of us I dont think people want to believe it; to believe would shatter the illusion.

I have no idea if Cosby is a rapist, but by the same token no one can say for sure if Michael Jackson sexually abused young children. I think allegations of this nature should certainly be investigated, especially if there are multiple accounts. As with Michael Jackson, Cosby has paid a civil settlement to squash a lawsuit that involved about a dozen women (http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20059561,00.html).

I just think its interesting that whether or not he did it has less to do with what was said than who the claim was made against. For many its easier to believe that a reclusive popstar was a pervert than a well loved comedy actor from an iconic TV show.

What is the purpose of posting such inflammatory commentary? To help spread the word of a money-grubbing woman who is just trying to ruin the family of a black man... shameful. Such posts shouldn't be allowed.

See above.

This is like the US-version of Operation Yewtree. Soon there will be no male light entertainers from the 70s/80s left standing on either side of the Atlantic.

I'm still waiting for the DM news headline that Blue Peter was actually a portal to a paedophile ring and the award of the coveted BP badge was actually a euphemism for something more sinister*.

*Joking...but I'm really not.

The last few years were shocking. Rolf Harris :-\

[Karee 4,189]

What is the purpose of posting such inflammatory commentary? To help spread the word of a money-grubbing woman who is just trying to ruin the family of a black man... shameful. Such posts shouldn't be allowed.

Seems like a tabloid headline to me, but what do I know.

[MacUK 983]

What is the purpose of posting such inflammatory commentary? To help spread the word of a money-grubbing woman who is just trying to ruin the family of a black man... shameful. Such posts shouldn't be allowed.

What has skin colour got to do with anything?

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

If he's innocent and she made this up, she should be punished. If it did happen, Mr. Cosby should go to jail.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What has skin colour got to do with anything?

Not a stitch.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If he's innocent and she made this up, she should be punished. If it did happen, Mr. Cosby should go to jail.

Personally, I think it's too early to be drawing any conclusions from this. I'm inclined to at least listen to the story and see how it plays out. As I said above, a lot of things have come out of the woodwork about TV stars I remember fondly from my own childhood and many people (myself included) are still struggling to understand how someone like Rolf Harris could have sexually abused an underage girl. Nostalgia has to be separated from the facts, and the facts are that Mr Harris did indeed do what he was accused of.

Obviously, we're talking about a different person here - but I think it's disappointing that someone has already taken the position that the woman making the allegations is 'money grubbing', as if her story has been made up. Can anyone honestly say that they know for sure that this is the case?

I think it's very disappointing that the post quoted below has received several '+1's' and I'd hope that this has more to do with the poster's in question having a personal issue with me, than because they genuinely agree with what's written there.

Some people do seem to believe that because some women make up allegations of rape, that whenever a story like this appears in the news that the person in question must be making it up because they want money. Personally I think there's an element of misogyny in there - as if all women who say they are raped must bear responsibility for the lies of a few. Personally I think that's a very disappointing attitude.

What is the purpose of posting such inflammatory commentary? To help spread the word of a money-grubbing woman who is just trying to ruin the family of a black man... shameful. Such posts shouldn't be allowed.

Edited October 28, 2014 by Hail Ming!

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Personally, I think it's too early to be drawing any conclusions from this. I'm inclined to at least listen to the story and see how it plays out. As I said above, a lot of things have come out of the woodwork about TV stars I remember fondly from my own childhood and many people are still struggling to understand how someone like Rolf Harris (myself included) could have sexually abused an underage girl. Nostalgia has to be separated from the facts, and the facts are that Mr Harris did indeed do what he was accused of.

Obviously, we're talking about a different person here - but I think it's disappointing that someone has already taken the position that the woman making the allegations is 'money grubbing', as if her story has been made up. Can anyone honestly say that they know for sure that this is the case?

I think it's very disappointing that the post quoted below has received several '+1's' and I'd hope that this has more to do with the poster's in question having a personal issue with me, than because they genuinely agree with what's written there.

Some people do seem to believe that because some women make up allegations of rape, that whenever a story like this appears in the news that the person in question must be making it up because they want money. Personally I think there's an element of misogyny in there - as if all women who say they are raped must bear responsibility for the lies of others. I think that's a very disappointing attitude.

Rape cases are on such a slippery slope. If it's true, a person has been violated in a way that permanently damages them and there is nothing on earth that can replace what was taken. If it's not, you have about a .5% chance of moving forward from the charge(if you're not rich and famous) when you get accused.

I hope the facts come out either way.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Rape cases are on such a slippery slope. If it's true, a person has been violated in a way that permanently damages them and there is nothing on earth that can replace what was taken. If it's not, you have about a .5% chance of moving forward from the charge(if you're not rich and famous) when you get accused.

I hope the facts come out either way.

Very true. The worst part here is that if she is telling the truth, she waited so long before coming forward that it will be hard to prove her case. Most evidence will be hearsay as opposed to factual. Hiding something like a rape, while understandable due to the victim's feelings, actually hurts the victim's chances of winning.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Rape cases are on such a slippery slope. If it's true, a person has been violated in a way that permanently damages them and there is nothing on earth that can replace what was taken. If it's not, you have about a .5% chance of moving forward from the charge(if you're not rich and famous) when you get accused.

I hope the facts come out either way.

That is what this woman has indicated.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Very true. The worst part here is that if she is telling the truth, she waited so long before coming forward that it will be hard to prove her case. Most evidence will be hearsay as opposed to factual. Hiding something like a rape, while understandable due to the victim's feelings, actually hurts the victim's chances of winning.

So do you or do you not believe that this woman is a 'money grubber'?

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

So do you or do you not believe that this woman is a 'money grubber'?

Only time will tell. Not enough facts at this juncture to be able to make a call. Looking at cases like Michael Brown's, it may be quite some time before we learn the truth.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Very true. The worst part here is that if she is telling the truth, she waited so long before coming forward that it will be hard to prove her case. Most evidence will be hearsay as opposed to factual. Hiding something like a rape, while understandable due to the victim's feelings, actually hurts the victim's chances of winning.

And by waiting this long, she can't go after him legally. The stature of limitations for rape in NYC is 5 years. Meaning if he is guilty of this horrible crime, he will never go to trial for it.

That is what this woman has indicated.

Still reading the story from top to bottom. I'm starting to get angry at Mr. Cosby.