"EVERYONE knew what he was doing back then. How could you NOT!"
UPDATE 7/1/21 AT 6:45AM
Janet Hubert took aim at Phylicia Rashad after she voiced her support of Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction being overturned.
After the actor was positioned to walk out of prison after serving only two years of a 10-year sentence on Wednesday, Rashad had tweeted, "FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted - a miscarriage of justice is corrected!"
"Phylicia what are you thinking!!!" Hubert posted in response. "I don't know you but to say this was terribly wrong. EVERYONE knew what he was doing back then. How could you NOT!"
"Get your umbrella sista here comes the sh-- shower. I am outraged that he had been released. Yes he is an old ass guilty man!"
I would have said he's old he's out and I'm happy for him, but he still ...guilty. I know 5 women who have not come forward. Enough Ya'll we know better. Powerful men do wrong things, black or white...
— Janet Hubert (@OGJanetHubert) June 30, 2021 @OGJanetHubert
Less than an hour later, the "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" vet added, "I would have said he's old he's out and I'm happy for him, but he still ...guilty. I know 5 women who have not come forward. Enough Ya'll we know better. Powerful men do wrong things, black or white..."
When a critic asked why Hubert didn't speak out before if she knew other victims, the actress clapped back, claiming she did, adding, "You just didn't bother to listen because you all were to [sic] busy beating my ass over Fresh Prince sh--."
Hubert famously fell out with Will Smith after she was replaced on "Fresh Prince" for its fourth season. She claimed Smith said she was difficult to work with in the years that followed, causing her to lose potential jobs. At the show's recent reunion, however, the pair reconciled, with Smith apologizing for his treatment of her on set.
On Twitter, Hubert added, "No one believes black women did you believe me all those years...NOPE. You always take the side of the one with the most money. I believe it's called CANCEL CULTURE."
Oh but I have you just didn't bother to listen because you all were to busy beating my ass over Fresh Prince shit.
— Janet Hubert (@OGJanetHubert) July 1, 2021 @OGJanetHubert
No one believes black women did you believe me all those years...NOPE. You always take the side of the one with the most money. I believe it's called CANCEL CULTURE
— Janet Hubert (@OGJanetHubert) July 1, 2021 @OGJanetHubert
ORIGINAL STORY 6/30/21 AT 3:50PM
Hollywood reacted to the news of Bill Cosby being released from prison and in the process, slammed Phylicia Rashad over her support of the actor.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania overturned Cosby's 2018 conviction on sexual assault charges. The 83-year-old comedian had served two of the 10 years he was sentenced after being found guilty of drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in 2004.
I know many young women and men who are so Afraid to press charges against their rapist and Re traumatize themselves I am heartbroken today to hear of the news of Cosby’s release .this is sickening. My heart is with my sister survivors. We have work to do.
— ✌🏼rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) June 30, 2021 @RoArquette
Bill Cosby is STILL an evil rapist .the end.
— ✌🏼rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) June 30, 2021 @RoArquette
According to court documents, the judges found that an agreement Cosby had with a previous prosecutor prevented him from being charged in his 2018 case. "In light of these circumstances, the subsequent decision by successor D.A.s to prosecute Cosby violated Cosby's due process rights," the judges wrote. They also ruled that Cosby's case cannot be prosecuted again.
Following the shocking news, celebrities took to social media to voice their opinions regarding Cosby's release, with most lambasting the court's decision.
"I am heartbroken today to hear of the news of Cosby’s release .this is sickening. My heart is with my sister survivors. We have work to do," wrote Rosanna Arquete. "Bill Cosby is STILL an evil rapist .the end."
Amber Tamblyn tweeted, "I am furious to hear this news. I personally know women who this man drugged and raped while unconscious. Shame on the court and this decision. #TimesUp #MeToo"
I am furious to hear this news. I personally know women who this man drugged and raped while unconscious. Shame on the court and this decision. #TimesUp #MeToo
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) June 30, 2021 @ambertamblyn
Bill Cosby to Be Freed as Court Overturns His Sex Assault Conviction - The New York Times https://t.co/W34edMi1vw
Cosby drugged and raped 60 women. Do they not deserve “fairness” and justice?
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) June 30, 2021 @PadmaLakshmi
This is why people don’t come forward.
This is why urging people to “press charges” falls short, as long as wealthy & powerful men can rape & sexually assault people for decades with impunity #MeToo
Cosby vindicated! Justice has finally been served. Victim of another flawed, corrupt celebrity trial. Sadly, the corrupt prosecutor who put him behind bars still has his license.
— Randy Quaid (@RandyRRQuaid) June 30, 2021 @RandyRRQuaid
Told you so on #BillCosby. He was convicted by a court so tainted by public opinion and social pressure that it allowed obviously prejudicial evidence and improper witnesses. He may be a bad guy, but in this case he was railroaded by the mob.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) June 30, 2021 @GeraldoRivera
And as scores of other women had come forward to accuse Cosby of drugging and assaulting them over the past few decades, Padma Lakshmi shared, "Cosby drugged and raped 60 women. Do they not deserve 'fairness' and justice? This is why people don't come forward. This is why urging people to 'press charges' falls short, as long as wealthy & powerful men can rape & sexually assault people for decades with impunity."
There were, however, a few voices from Tinseltown that lent their support for Cosby, with Randy Quaid writing, "Cosby vindicated! Justice has finally been served. Victim of another flawed, corrupt celebrity trial."
"Told you so on #BillCosby," Geraldo Rivera tweeted. "He was convicted by a court so tainted by public opinion and social pressure that it allowed obviously prejudicial evidence and improper witnesses. He may be a bad guy, but in this case he was railroaded by the mob."
FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected! pic.twitter.com/NrGUdwr23c
— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021 @PhyliciaRashad
Phylicia! #BillCosby being released from prison on a technicality is a complete miscarriage of justice & will never be an exoneration for the brutal crimes he committed against women. The world is now woke & women will no longer be silenced. You should be ashamed of yourself. https://t.co/BVWbmZME3m
— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) June 30, 2021 @GretchenCarlson
The bye Phylicia to end all bye Phylicia’s. https://t.co/w7oeYrKGHe
— Billy Baldwin (@BillyBaldwin) June 30, 2021 @BillyBaldwin
The reaction that ended up getting the biggest reactions was from Cosby's former "The Cosby Show" co-star, Rashad, who posted, "FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!"
"Phylicia! #BillCosby being released from prison on a technicality is a complete miscarriage of justice & will never be an exoneration for the brutal crimes he committed against women," posted Gretchen Carlson. "The world is now woke & women will no longer be silenced. You should be ashamed of yourself."
Billy Baldwin summed up his feelings by posting, "The bye Phylicia to end all bye Phylicia's."
Hours after her initial tweet, Rashad followed up by saying, "I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth. Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing."
Keep reading for more reactions, below.
To every woman who was sexual assaulted by #BillCosby my heart hurts for you today and I am full fury. It’s horrifying.
— Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) June 30, 2021 @DebraMessing
Heartbreaking for all survivors. #MeToo lasts forever https://t.co/0behEZS8PQ
— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) June 30, 2021 @EllenBarkin
why phylicia
— Julie Klausner (@julieklausner) June 30, 2021 @julieklausner
WHEN will things get better for women and girls regarding sexual assault, sexism, misogyny and ageism?
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) June 30, 2021 @kathygriffin
What will it take?
So discouraged.
SIXTY. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/MAxY9eK0N4
— kristen johnston (@thekjohnston) June 30, 2021 @thekjohnston
I GUESS 70 WOMEN WERENT ENOUGH - fuck u bill https://t.co/9dZUPzGx9U #WTF #RAPIST
— ROSIE (@Rosie) June 30, 2021 @Rosie
Bill Cosby about to be free! City boy win summer 2021! pic.twitter.com/UR0oUPzopH
— lil duval (@lilduval) June 30, 2021 @lilduval
I’m enraged, heartbroken and disgusted by Cosby’s release. I can only imagine what all his survivors must be feeling. This convicted rapist is free today because he is a man of privilege. The Patriarchy rears it’s ugly head yet again.
— Christine Lahti (@ChristineALahti) June 30, 2021 @ChristineALahti
Did Bill Cosby drug the PA Supreme Court?😜
— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) June 30, 2021 @Diane_Warren
Rich, powerful, sexual predator, Jeffrey Epstein got s sweetheart deal from then US attorney, Alex Acosta.
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) June 30, 2021 @ananavarro
Rich, powerful, sexual-predator Bill Cosby got a sweet-heart, no-prosecution deal from a prosecutor and is getting out of jail.
Anybody else see a pattern, here?
to all the brave women who spoke out against Bill Cosby- your bravery did not go unnoticed 🥺❤️
— CANCELLED (@tanamongeau) June 30, 2021 @tanamongeau