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'Cosby Show' Actress And Two More Women Accuse Bill Cosby Of Sexual Assault
Cosby (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Two actresses and a former airline attendant came forward today accusing Bill Cosby of sexual assault, joining dozens of other accusers.
Eden Tirl, who appeared on The Cosby Show, was joined by actress Linda Ridgeway and Colleen Hughes, a former American Airlines flight attendant, as the women brought new allegations against Cosby during a press conference today. The three women, represented by attorney Gloria Allred, shared their encounters with the comedian and described the alleged sexual assaults, according to the L.A. Times.
Tirl, who appeared on two episodes of The Cosby Show, explained that she was sexually assaulted by Cosby while locked in a dressing room during a taping of the show in 1989. She says she found the courage to come forward after hearing other women's stories. Allred explained, "Many victims do not speak out at the time they are victimized because they fear they would not be believed…or they blame themselves… or fear attacks [by those they have accused]. They realize their silence is helping Mr. Cosby and harming [other accusers]."
Ridgeway, who acted in multiple films and television shows, described her assault in detail, which allegedly occurred in an office while Cosby was interviewing her for a part during the 1970s. "I felt Cosby's left hand gently grab my long hair behind my head, his giant frame blocked the door,” she told reporters at the conference. “His penis was out of his pants and he shoved it into my mouth."
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Also in the 1970s, Hughes met Cosby onboard a flight to Los Angeles while she was working and was invited to lunch with him in Beverly Hills, according to The Wrap. She says that the two of them went to her hotel room so that she could change and when she emerged from the bathroom, Cosby offered her champagne from her shoe. While Hughes declined the shoe, she said that the two did drink champagne and that the last thing she remembered was Cosby trying to hold her hand. She woke up hours later.
Allred, who represents 21 alleged victims of Cosby, said that she hopes the comedian's pending deposition will offer an opportunity to answer questions about all of the victims. She explains, "We would like to inquire about allegations of other accusers."
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