The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art says it will post a sign telling visitors that an exhibition featuring Bill Cosby’s art collection is about the artists, not a tribute to the comedian.
The exhibition is continuing despite allegations by more than two dozen women that Mr. Cosby committed sexual misconduct in the past four decades. Several say he drugged and raped them.
Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas says the museum will install the sign on Wednesday. She says the sign will essentially say the museum does not condone Mr. Cosby’s behavior.
The Cosby art collection features African-American artists long under-appreciated by museums.
Court documents have revealed Mr. Cosby admitted under oath that he obtained Quaaludes to give to women with whom he wanted to have sex.
Mr. Cosby has never been charged with a crime, and his legal team has repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing against him.
According to a detailed review of the 37 women’s claims on The Wrap, an entertainment news website, 29 of the women said their encounters with Mr. Cosby occurred in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
One woman remembers being attacked but can’t remember when it happened. Four women reported incidents in the 1990s, and the remaining incidents occurred in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Thirty of the women reported being offered drugged drinks or pills. Most reported sexual assault, including rape, but in 15 cases, the women did not report sexual intercourse, according to details compiled by The Wrap.
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