Bill Cosby topless protester identified as Nicolle Rochelle, who appeared on 'The Cosby Show'
Bill Cosby might have recognized the protester. On Monday, 39-year-old actress Nicolle Rochelle charged toward the disgraced comedian topless with the words “Women’s Lives Matter” painted on her body. She also had names of some of Cosby’s alleged victims written across her chest.
According to Rochelle’s IMDb listing, she appeared on four episodes of The Cosby Show from 1990 to 1992. She would have been around age 11 or 12 during her first appearance. Rochelle was arrested after rushing through a barricade and charged with disorderly conduct for entering the restricted area. She will face a fine if convicted.
“The main goal was to make Cosby uncomfortable because that is exactly what he has been doing for decades to women and to show him that the body can be aggressive and empowered,” she said afterward, according to the Associated Press.
Rochelle reportedly noted that she didn’t have any bad experiences with Cosby when she was on the show, nor did she intend to physically hurt him. The actress, who has also appeared on Law & Order and Chapelle’s Show, is a member of the European feminist group Femen, which is known for staging topless protests around the world. Cosby’s spokesperson has asked for increased security.
Cosby, 80, is on trial in Pennsylvania for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in 2004. The actor pleaded not guilty to the charges against him before his first trial last year. In June 2017, a judge declared a mistrial after jurors were deadlocked following five days of deliberations.
Janice Dickinson is one of five women who will be testifying against Cosby during the retrial. The model is one of more than 50 women who have come forward to accuse the Cosby Show star of allegedly drugging and/or raping them. Cosby has denied all allegations.
Opening statements were set to begin Monday. However, a judge is holding a closed-door hearing on whether one of the 12 jurors selected last week made a statement saying Cosby was guilty.
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