Bill Cosby, the renowned comedian, is once again facing legal trouble as actress and former comedy writer, Joan Tarshis, has filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape. Tarshis alleges that Cosby drugged her on two separate occasions in the early 1970s.
Key Takeaway
Actress Joan Tarshis has sued Bill Cosby, accusing him of multiple instances of rape and sexual assault that allegedly took place in the 1970s. Tarshis claims Cosby drugged her and took advantage of her while she was unconscious. This lawsuit adds to the numerous allegations that Cosby has faced throughout his career.
In her legal documents, Tarshis reveals that she first met Cosby when she was 19 years old, through a mutual friend. She was invited to the studio where the hit show ‘Cosby Show’ was being filmed for a one-on-one writing session. It was during this session that Tarshis claims Cosby offered her a drink, which she accepted. Shortly after consuming the drink, she began feeling dizzy and eventually passed out. When she regained consciousness, she discovered Cosby undressing her.
Tarshis vividly recalls her disoriented state as she tried to resist Cosby’s advances. She alleges that Cosby overpowered her and forced himself upon her, inserting his penis into her mouth non-consensually.
About a year later, Tarshis claims that Cosby reached out to her again in New York City. He invited her to accompany him to a music fair where he was scheduled to perform. Reluctantly, Tarshis agreed. During their journey, she was given another drink by Cosby, which caused her to feel weak and eventually lose consciousness. Tarshis states that she woke up the next morning, naked in bed next to Cosby, and believes she had been vaginally and anally penetrated without her consent.
Tarshis is seeking justice for the traumatic experiences she endured, thus filing a lawsuit against Cosby. The allegations include assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment. She is also seeking substantial damages for the harm caused. Cosby’s representative has declined to comment on the matter.
It is important to note that this is not the first time Cosby has faced such accusations. He has been sued by numerous women, and in Pennsylvania, he even stood trial and was found guilty of assaulting Andrea Costand. However, his conviction was later overturned.
Tarshis had previously come forward with her allegations against Cosby and participated in a widely-discussed interview with CNN’s Don Lemon. During the interview, Lemon’s comments regarding Tarshis’s choices sparked controversy, as he seemed to imply that she could have prevented the assault by abstaining from performing oral sex. Tarshis’s decision to file a lawsuit now resurfaces the issue and highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.
