Bill Cosby News: Kathie Lee Gifford Comes Forth With New Allegation, Comedian's Daughter Defends Him
Kathie Lee Gifford is the latest celebrity to allege that Bill Cosby had an inappropriate interaction with her while the comedian's daughter is coming to his defense.
Cosby, the 77-year-old comedian who became popular on the 1980s and 1990s family sitcom "The Cosby Show," has recently been the subject of media scrutiny due to the rising number of allegations brought against him. Lately, a number of women have come forth, alleging that Cosby sexually assaulted them years ago.
While many women claimed Cosby drugged and raped them, Gifford's story is a bit different. The 61-year-old t.v. host, actress and singer spoke on the "Today" show about a time in the 1970s when Cosby attempted to kiss her.
"I along with so many Americans and people around the world don't want these (accusations) to be true. I will admit towards the end of the tour the last time I saw him he did try to kiss me," Gifford told "Today" according to The New York Daily News."I said, 'No,' I said, 'Bill, we're friends.' He said, 'OK, good night," and I said, 'Good night.'"
Although Gifford revealed that the encounter ended with both she and a married Cosby going into their respective hotel rooms, she also admitted to getting "chills" when recalling that Cosby often offered her backup singers cappuccino. Recently, model Beverly Johnson alleged that Cosby drugged her coffee made with his homemade machine.
Despite the allegations, Cosby's 38-year-old daughter, Evin Cosby, released a statement standing by her father while insisting he was much like the character he played on "The Cosby Show."
"He is the FATHER you thought you knew," Evin told "Access Hollywood." "The Cosby Show was my today's tv reality show."
Cosby's wife, Camille, also defended her husband recently.
"A different man has been portrayed in the media over the last two months. It is the portrait of a man I do not know," she said in a recent statement. "It is also a portrait painted by individuals and organizations whom many in the media have given a pass. The man I met, and fell in love with, and whom I continue to love, is the man you all knew through his work."
