Keshia Knight Pulliam Comments on Bill Cosby Rape Allegations; 'That's Just Not the Man I Know,' Star Says
Keshia Knight Pulliam, 35, was the first contestant fired from "Celebrity Apprentice" and then decided to share her position about her famous TV dad's most recent sexual assault allegations.
Pulliam starred as Rudy Huxtable in "The Cosby Show" along with Bill Cosby. Cosby, the 77-year-old comedian who became popular in the 1980s and 1990s has recently been the subject of media scrutiny due to the rising number of allegations brought against him.
Lately, over 20 women have come forth alleging that Cosby sexually assaulted them years ago. In a recent appearance on "The Today Show," Pulliam refused to comment in detail about allegations brought forth against Cosby.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"What I can say is this—I wasn't there," she said. "No one was there except for the two people who know exactly what happened. All I can speak to is the man that I know and I love."
Although she admits to not having spoken to Cosby in years, she remembers him as a good man.
"The fact that he's been such an example, you can't take away from the great that he has done," Pulliam said. "You know, the amount … the millions and millions of dollars that he has given back to colleges and education, and just what he did with 'The Cosby Show' and how groundbreaking that was."
While she refused to call Cosby to contribute to her charity on "Celebrity Apprentice" since they had not talked in some time, and was subsequently let go from "Apprentice," Pulliam refused to assume that her famous television father is guilty.
"Ultimately, they're just that ... allegations. You know, it's very much been played out in the court of public opinion," she told "The Today Show." "But we're still in America, where ultimately you're innocent until proven guilty... That's just not the man I know."
Still, Cosby has been receiving backlash since allegations were brought forth against him. In response, several appearances have been cancelled and colleges associated with the comedian have chosen to end their relationship with him. The U.S. Navy also stripped the comedian of his honorary title at the close of last year, after it was given to him in 2011.
"The Navy is taking this action because allegations against Mr. Cosby are very serious and are in conflict with the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment," a statement from Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus read, according to reports.
