Camille Cosby, longtime wife of Bill Cosby, released a statement on Monday addressing the increasing number of rape and drugging allegations against Cosby, and the comedian’s wife is standing by her husband.

Camille Cosby Statement: “Who Is The Victim?”

While Cosby has mostly refused to answer any questions regarding the two-dozen allegations of rape, assault or drugging, Camille Cosby, his wife of 50 years, released a lengthy statement in defense of her husband.

In her statement, Camille tries to repair her husband’s image as a beloved father figure from The Cosby Show, saying of her husband, “He is the man you thought you knew.”

Camille goes on to criticize media coverage of the allegations against her husband, suggesting that the women accusing Cosby of rape had not been properly vetted, their stories not properly investigated. “There appears to be no vetting of my husband’s accusers before stories are published or aired. An accusation is published, and immediately goes viral,” Camille said.

Camille compared the allegations against her husband to those made by ‘Jackie’ in the Rolling Stone UVA story. Rolling Stone published what appeared to be a damning first person account of being raped at a UVA fraternity, but it has since been revealed that the story contained multiple errors and discrepancies, causing the entire article and story to be called into question. The magazine has since apologized for publishing the story without properly fact-checking.

Camille concludes her statement with the suggestion that it is Cosby that is the victim:

“I met my husband Bill Cosby, in 1963, and we were married in 1964. The man I met, and fell in love with, and whom I continue to love, is the man you all knew through his work. He is a kind man, a generous man, a funny man, and a wonderful husband, father and friend. He is the man you thought you knew.

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. It is also a portrait painted by individuals and organizations whom [sic] many in the media have given a pass. There appears to be no vetting of my husband’s accusers before stories are published or aired. An accusation is published, and immediately goes viral.

We all followed the story of the article in the ‘Rolling Stone’ concerning allegations of rape at the University of Virginia. The story was heart breaking, but ultimately appears to be proved untrue. Many in the media were quick to link that story to stories about my husband – until that story unwound.

None of us will ever want to be in the position of attacking a victim. But the question should be asked – who is the victim?”

 

Cosby Calls Out “Black Media”

Camille’s statement comes on the heels of Bill Cosby finally breaking his silence on the allegations. Like his wife did after him, Cosby expressed his disappointment in the ‘media,’ specifically “black media.”

“Let me say this. I only expect the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism and when you do that you have to go in with a neutral mind,” Cosby told New York Post writer, Stacy Brown.

In the same interview, Cosby insisted that he had been advised by lawyers not to speak about the allegations, but he did gush about his wife, saying, “Love and the strength of womanhood. Let me say it again, love and the strength of womanhood. And, you could reverse it, the strength of womanhood and love.”

Bob Butler, the President of the National Association of Black Journalists, has since spoken about Cosby’s allegations of biased reporting. Butler insists that a majority of journalists have been nothing but ethical in their reporting of the allegations against Cosby, saying, “You don’t go easier on a person of color. It’s wrong for journalism period. This is not a color issue, this is a journalism issue… black people happen to be reporters.”

Meanwhile, Cosby accusers, including supermodels Janice Dickinson and Beverly Johnson, continue to speak out and come forward with their stories.