Beverly Johnson And The Bill Cosby Scandal

With guest host Michel Martin.

Supermodel Beverly Johnson is the latest woman to accuse Bill Cosby.  She joins us.

The allegations against Bill Cosby keep coming.  More than 20 women claim that Cosby drugged them and in some cases, sexually assaulted them.  Today, we speak with one of his accusers—perhaps the most prominent: model, actress and businesswoman Beverly Johnson.  She says Cosby invited her to audition and put drugs in her coffee.  It has taken her thirty years to go public. Why?  Like many of us, she had a stake in Bill Cosby – Jell-O  Pudding Man, Dr. Huxtable,  America’s favorite dad. This hour, On Point:  Cosby accuser Beverly Johnson.
-- Michel Martin

Beverly Johnson, model, actress and businesswoman. Founder and CEO of Beverly Johnson Luxurious Lifestyle Brand. (@beverlyjohnson1)

Renee Graham, music and pop culture critic for NPR's Here & Now. Op-ed contributor at the Boston Globe. (@reneeygraham)

Jack Marshall, president and founder of ProEthics. (@captcompliance)

Debra Katz, partner at the law firm Katz, Marshall and Banks.

Vanity Fair: Bill Cosby Drugged Me. This Is My Story. — "For a long time I thought it was something that only happened to me, and that I was somehow responsible. So I kept my secret to myself, believing this truth needed to remain in the darkness. But the last four weeks have changed everything, as so many women have shared similar stories, of which the press have belatedly taken heed."

USA Today: Camille Cosby defends her husband — "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 also a portrait painted by individuals and organizations whom 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.

Boston Globe: Bill Cosby losing in court of public opinion -- "While celebrities crash-and-burn with tedious frequency, the gnawing possibility that Cosby may have committed horrific acts against women is working our culture’s nerves in a different way. After all, this is the man who was all but anointed 'America’s dad' during the giddy years of 'The Cosby Show.' On Saturday mornings, he entertained a generation and shared life lessons on 'Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.' He was the comedian who proved you could keep it clean and still sell out arenas."