After an explosive, bold and extremely powerful New York Magazine cover—showcasing 35 women who have accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault, and detailing their stories within the issue’s pages—you might have thought that Bill Cosby’s reputation couldn’t possibly suffer another shattering blow. Surely, after that, the extent of abuse had at least been brought to light.
But overnight, three more women—with the tally now at 49—have put forward allegations against Bill Cosby, unearthing claims of abuse by the 78-year-old that had previously remained unsaid for decades.
Colleen Hughes, Linda Ridgeway Whitedeer and Eden Tirl have inflated the extent of alleged abuse by Cosby – with Hughes and Whitedeer detailing alleged sexual assaults by Cosby in the early 1970s, and Tirl claiming Cosby sexually abused her while filming The Cosby Show in 1989.
Linda Ridgeway Whitedeer, actor. In 1971 #billcosby ‘shoved his penis in my mouth’ during interview. pic.twitter.com/gTS6rLismg
— Rory Carroll (@rorycarroll72) August 12, 2015
According to USA Today, Linda Riddgeway Whitedeer said it was her time to “take the empty chair” by detailing her experience – when she was forced into oral sex by the actor.
“He [Cosby] was mumbling that I had been blessed with his semen as if it were holy water. He gloated over my humiliation. He had planned it. I was in shock.”
Speaking out on the abuse she faced by Cosby for the first time, former flight attendant Colleen Hughes lamented the weight of her “secret”.
“I’ve lived my whole life with this terrible secret about Bill and what he did to me. I never told anyone.”
Violence or sexual abuse against women is never acceptable. If you or someone you know is experiencing physical or sexual abuse, calls can be made 24 hours a day on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) to the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line.
