The youngest daughter of embattled comedian Bill Cosby, defended her father from charges of sexual assault in a recently published essay, People magazine reported Wednesday, while the elderly actor and comedian insists he looks forward to the “next chapter” in his career after his day in court is done.
“He is not abusive, violent or a rapist,” 40-year-old Evin Cosby wrote in a statement published on the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Newswire, People reported. “Sure, like many celebrities tempted by opportunity, he had his affairs, but that was between him and my mother. They have worked through it and moved on, and I am glad they did for them and for our family.”
Mr. Cosby is awaiting the start of a sexual assault trial in Pittsburgh, his attorneys having successfully won a motion for a change of venue from Philadelphia, where the 2004 sexual assault allegedly occurred, NBC News reported. Jury selection begins a little less than a month from now on May 22, according to People.
In October, Mr. Cosby’s attorneys told the court that the 79-year-old comedian had been declared legally blind. They argued he was unable to defend himself in court, being unable to see his accusers and assist his attorneys in picking apart their testimony.
Through a spokesman, Mr. Cosby confirmed to the NNPA Newswire he is, in fact, blind.
“When he would perform, we’d draw a wide straight yellow line from backstage to the chair on the stage and he’d rehearse the walk, hours before the show,” Cosby PR agent Andrew Wyatt told NNPA, which described Mr. Cosby’s blindness as irreversible.
Despite his health and legal woes, however, Mr. Cosby says he is eager to return to the stage, telling NNPA saying he “has some routines and storytelling that I am working on.”
“I think about walking out on stage somewhere in the United States of America and sitting down in a chair and giving the performance that will be the beginning of the next chapter of my career,” he said.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.