'Cosby Show' actress accuses Bill Cosby of sexual assault

The sexual assault scandal surrounding embattled comedian Bill Cosby further widened on Friday, as two more women - including an actress who had appeared on "The Cosby Show" - came forward with new accusations against him.

In a press conference with attorney Gloria Allred in New York, Lili Bernard and Sammie Mays shared their allegations against Cosby. Lili, who appeared in an episode of the final season of "The Cosby Show," claimed that she was drugged, raped and threatened by Cosby while he was mentoring her in preparation for her appearance as "the zany and very pregnant Mrs. Minifield."

According to Bernard, Cosby was initially comforting and welcoming to her, complimenting her on her various skills.

"After he had won m complete trust and adoration he drugged me and raped me," Bernard said in a statement Friday.

Bernard claimed that she last saw Cosby at the "Cosby Show" studios in 1992, where he told her, "As far as I'm concerned, Bernard, you're dead. Do you hear me? You're dead, Bernard. You don't exist, I never wanna see your face again. Now get the hell out of here!"

"I interpreted that as a death threat and feared for my life," Bernard said.

Bernard claims to have become suicidal in the months following that encounter, and said that she still suffers panic attacks and night terrors "as a result of what Mr. Cosby did to me."

Cosby, 77, has been besieged in recent months by accusations of sexual assault leveled against him by dozens of women. A common thread in the allegations is that Cosby drugged the women before assaulting them.

Also Read: Bill Cosby Scandal Widens as Three More Accusers Come Forward

Last week, three new accusers came forward to claim that they had been assaulted by Cosby, including a former model who claimed that she was "targeted and drugged by Bill Cosby" in 1975 at the Playboy Mansion in Chicago.

Cosby's attorney, Martin Singer, has denied accusations made against the comedian in the past.

In the wake of the accusations, Cosby has suffered career setbacks, with Netflix postponing a comedy special that was to have aired late last year, and NBC shelving a comedy that it was developing as a possible starring vehicle for Cosby.

Also Read: Bill Cosby Fires Back at Heckler Who Shouts 'Tell the One About How to Get Away With Rape'

The comedian is scheduled to perform at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Saturday.

More to come...

Read original story 'Cosby Show' Actress Accuses Bill Cosby of Sexual Assault At TheWrap