Actress Phylicia Rashad is walking back a tweet she posted in the wake of shocking news that Bill Cosby was released from prison after his sexual assault conviction was overturned.
Rashad posted a tweet, proclaiming her support of sexual assault survivors. “I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth,” she said. “Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing.”
I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth. Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing.
— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021
Rashad’s new tweet comes in light of her earlier tweet she posted in the wake of Cosby’s prison release, in which she proclaimed “a terrible wrong is being righted.” Rashad’s tweet received swift backlash from many social media users who called out the actress for siding with Cosby, who has faced sexual assault allegations from over 60 women.
FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected! pic.twitter.com/NrGUdwr23c
— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021
Phylicia what are you thinking!!! I don’t know you but to say this was terribly wrong. EVERYONE knew what he was doing back then. How could you NOT! Get your umbrella sista here comes the shit shower. I am outraged that he has been released. Yes he is an old ass guilty man! pic.twitter.com/9mHtuEYLgk
— Janet Hubert (@OGJanetHubert) June 30, 2021
Among the many to call Rashad out on her tweet was The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air breakout star Janet Hubert. “Phylicia what are you thinking!!! I don’t know you but to say this was terribly wrong,” Hubert said in her tweet. “EVERYONE knew what he was doing back then. How could you NOT!”
Cosby was originally sentenced to 3 to 10 years after being found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2004.