'Scuttle it': Bill Cosby demands a reporter make awkward on-camera exchange over rape allegations disappear
By RYAN GORMAN
Shocking new video from the Associated Press shows beleaguered comedian Bill Cosby stammer and stutter over questions about rape allegations before arrogantly demanding the reporter not make public the footage.
Cosby's refusal to respond to the questions came along with an apparent threat to the AP reporter's integrity. The exchange happened Nov 6 during an interview about an art exhibit as his mortified wife sat next to him.
The interview appears to have gone well, as both the Cosbys were shown laughing, until the reporter insisted he had to ask about the avalanche of claims bringing Cosby's legacy crashing to the ground.
The legendary comedian's demeanor quickly turned sour as he tried to brush aside the question.
"No, no, we don't answer that," said Cosby, dismissively shaking his head.
"I just wanted to ask if you wanted to respond to that, whether any of that was true," said the unnamed reporter.
"There's no response," said a defeated sounding Cosby, again shaking his head.
The reporter further pressed, asking if people should view Cosby differently.
"There is no comment about that," he said. "And I'll tell you why, I think you were told I don't want to compromise your integrity, but, um, we don't, I don't, talk about it."
The interview neared its end and both the comedian and his wife flashed strained, forced smiles as Cosby then made a desperate, pathetic plea to the reporter.
"Can I get something from you?" He asked. "That none of that will be shown."
The reporter insists he can make no promises, and then reminds Cosby he did not say anything before the fallen star ends with a rambling, almost incoherent reply.
"I know I didn't say anything, but, I'm asking your integrity that, since I didn't want to say anything, but I did answer you, in terms of, I don't want to say anything, of what value will it have?"
Both the reporter and another woman reply that it does not have much value, after Cosby awkwardly forced a reply out of an off-camera producer.
"And I would appreciate it if it was scuttled," said the accused rapist. "I think, if you want to consider yourself to be serious, that it will not appear anywhere."
Despite the cameras still rolling and Cosby still wearing a microphone, his ranting continued.
"We thought, by the way, because it was AP, that it wouldn't be necessary to go over that question with you," said Cosby.
"If you will just tell your boss the reason why we didn't say that up front is because we thought that AP had the integrity to not ask."
A total of 14 women, including supermodel Janice Dickinson, now 59, have accused Cosby of sexual assault and/or rape.
The allegations had dissipated into the ether until comedian Hannibal Buress brought them back into the public consciousness during an October set at a Philadelphia comedy club.
The resulting fallout led Netflix to postpone a standup special featuring Cosby that was scheduled to air on Black Friday.
The NBC network also canceled a previously-announced family sitcom starring Cosby that was scheduled to hit the airwaves next summer or fall.
The TV Land cable network has even pulled reruns of the iconic "Cosby Show" from the airwaves until further notice.
All Cosby has left is a scheduled nationwide comedy tour, will it be his last stand or will this newly-revealed exchange be the last nail in the coffin of his once-vaunted career?
Related links:
TV Land pulls 'Cosby Show' from lineup
Bill Cosby's legacy in limbo as NBC cancels project amid mounting sex assault allegations
Bill Cosby's joke about drugging women in 1969 resurfaces
Janice Dickinson details Bill Cosby sexual assault accusations: He raped me
'You're a rapist': Comedian Hannibal Buress calls out Bill Cosby over sex assault allegations
