Whoopi Goldberg said during Monday’s episode of “The View” that she’s skeptical of Barbara Bowman’s claims that Bill Cosby raped her in 1985 at the age of 17 during her quest for modeling and acting jobs.
Ms. Bowman said she tried to tell an attorney her story of rape, but was laughed at and left the office. She subsequently stayed silent, but has spoken out now amid other women’s claims of the same treatment from the Hollywood icon.
But Ms. Goldberg isn’t buying it and wondered on “The View” why Ms. Bowman didn’t press the matter with authorities.
“Perhaps the police might have believed it, or the hospital,” she said. “Don’t you do a kit when you say someone has raped you?”
Fellow co-host Rosie O’Donnell pointed to the fact that there was a settlement forged by Andrea Costland, another woman who accused Mr. Cosby of rape, in 2006.
Ms. Costland’s lawyers said 13 other women had come forward voluntarily with similar accounts of assault by Mr. Cosby, but the settlement was reached before they were to testify.
But Ms. Goldberg shrugged.
“Quite honestly, look, I’m sorry, having been on both sides of this where people allege that you do something — it doesn’t matter now. The cat is out of the bag, people have it in their head,” Ms. Goldberg said. “I have a lot of questions for the lady. Maybe she’ll come on.”
Ms. Goldberg also seemed to sympathize with Mr. Cosby and said it’s “awkward” when celebrities have to deal with false accusations.
“I hope that there is justice for this lady,” she said. “I hope somebody gets to the bottom of this, but I’m going to reserve my judgment because I have a lot of questions, as I said. It’s crazy, but I have a lot of questions, because I know we all have friends who have gone through this.”
Co-host Nicolle Wallace weighed in.
“It’s more than awkward — it’s a tragedy,” she said. “Either 13 women were raped by someone too powerful to face the criminal justice system or an innocent man is being falsely accused.”
Mr. Cosby has denied the claims and has never been charged with any crime related to them.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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