culture / Politics

Hear Bill Cosby’s Accusers Tell Their Stories

New York Magazine spoke with 35 alleged victims of ‘osby's predation.

By Elias Leight
July 27, 2015

So far, 46 women have come forward to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault, in some cases, according to a recently unsealed deposition, with the aid of quaaludes—a powerful sedative that can render a person functionally immobile. But these allegations are by no means new, with some stretching back decades—to a time when the culture of rape in America left victims little recourse but to suffer silently, and in shame. Today, the way we think and talk about rape has evolved, creating a safer space for survivors to feel empowered by speaking up and reclaiming their victimhood. And that’s led us here. Of the 46 women who have come forward to accuse Cosby, we spoke to 35 of them — “a sorrowful sisterhood” of women united by their dark experiences, steadfast in their resolve to remain silent no more. Read more: nymag.com/cosby-women. 📷: Amanda Demme

A photo posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on

To date, 46 women have accused Bill Cosby of sexual abuse, and 35 of them are on the cover of the latest issue of New York Magazine. Though the comedian reportedly assaulted some of these women more than four decades ago, their stories are only finally being heard now.

ADVERTISEMENT

One of these women, Joyce Emmons, was reportedly friends with Cosby. One day, she told him she had a headache, and he allegedly gave her a Quaalude and let his friend take advantage of her. “That’s why I know the stories of what he did to the other women are true,” she notes. “Because if he didn’t have the respect for me, who was really a close friend, then he could do that to anybody he didn’t know very well.” Victoria Valentino, another woman to come forward, said that Cosby assaulted her not long after her six year-old son died under the pretense of "cheering [her] up." The comedian drugged both her and her roommate.

You can listen to the women tell their stories in the Instagram posts below, and read New York's article here.

ADVERTISEMENT

Joyce Emmons, 70, was allegedly assaulted by Bill Cosby circa 1979. Emmons managed a comedy club and became friends with Cosby. They had known each other for about two-and-a-half years when Emmons and her friend went out to a club with Cosby and one of his friends. “I had a terrible headache, and I said, ‘Bill, do you have some Tylenol? I have a mother of a headache.’ And he said to me, ‘I have something stronger.’ And I said, ‘You know I don’t do drugs.’ He said, ‘You’re one of my best friends. Would I hurt you?’ And I believed him. All I remember is taking the pill; I don’t remember going to bed. But I do remember waking up in a fog and opening my eyes, and I had no clothes on, and there was Bill’s friend totally naked in bed with me. I said, ‘What the F did you give me?’ He said, ‘Oh, you had a bad headache, you were in so much pain. I gave you a quaalude.’ I was hurt with Bill more than angry at his friend. Bill let him take advantage of me. That kills me. That’s why I know the stories of what he did to the other women are true, because if he didn’t have the respect for me, who was really a close friend, then he could do that to anybody he didn’t know very well.” Tap the photo to hear Joyce Emmons tell her story, and watch her video interview at nymag.com/cosby-women.

A video posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on

Victoria Valentino, 72, a former Playboy bunny, was allegedly assaulted by Bill Cosby in 1969. Valentino was dining with her roommate at their usual joint, Café Figaro, where Cosby happened to be part owner. He knew that Valentino’s 6-year-old son had recently died, and he told Valentino’s friend that he thought she could use some cheering up. "He took my roommate and me out to dinner. It was this new hip steak restaurant on the strip near the Whiskey a Go Go called Sneaky Pete’s. He was chatting her up and trying to charm her. And he reached across and put a pill next to my wine glass and said, ‘Here, this will make you feel better,’ and he gave her one. I wasn’t really thinking. I thought, Great, me feel better? You bet. So I took the pill and washed it down with some red wine. And then he reached across and put another pill in my mouth and gave her one. Just after I took the second pill, my face was, like, face-in-plate syndrome, and I just said, ‘I wanna go home.’ He said he would drive us home. We went up this elevator. I sat down, and lay my head back, just fighting nausea. I looked around and he was sitting next to my roommate on the loveseat with this very predatory look on his face. She was completely unconscious. I could hear the words in my head, but I couldn’t form words with my mouth, because I was so drugged out." Tap the photo to hear Victoria Valentino tell her story, and watch her video interview at nymag.com/cosby-women.

A video posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on

Louisa Moritz, 68, an actress, was allegedly assaulted by Bill Cosby in 1971. Moritz was getting ready to appear on the 'Tonight Show' when someone opened the door of her dressing room. “He never knocked. I knew it was Mr. Cosby. I'd seen his picture. He walked in and closed the door behind him. It went on for maybe four minutes, five minutes. But it was the longest five minutes that I ever experienced. And when they called my name, he ran out. When he walked down the stage, he introduced himself as Louisa Moritz. And then a huge laugh. When they called me to go onstage, I was a zombie. He didn't look at me while we were on the show. I didn't look at him. I just felt him. I was afraid to tell anybody. I knew who Mr. Cosby was and that prevented me from telling anybody. I felt ashamed. I was embarrassed to be me." Tap the photo to hear Louisa Moritz tell her story, and watch her video interview at nymag.com/cosby-women.

A video posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on

In a strange turn of events unrelated to the unveiling of the cover, a hacker succeeded in forcing New York’s website offline last night. The Daily Dot reports that the hacker told them over Skype chat, “Many stupid people at [sic] New York. I have not even seen the cover, LOL.” The source of his antipathy towards the city stems from a negative experience he had when visiting the city. He explained to The Daily Dot, “I went to new York 2 months ago. It was really bad. Someone pranked me. Everyone started laughing and shit. The first 10 hours being there. Some African-American tried to prank me with a fake hand gun.” The hacker purportedly plans to go after other websites with “New York” in their title as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

The site was still down this morning, but it‘s back up now.

ADVERTISEMENT
Politics

Recommended

culture / News
Hear Bill Cosby’s Accusers Tell Their Stories