Phylicia Rashad’s role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show cemented her position as one of television’s most iconic moms.
The popular sitcom was co-created by and starring Bill Cosby, aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984, through April 30, 1992, but was legacy was tarnished when Cosby was indicted on sexual assault charges.
On April 26, 2018, Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault and was sentenced to three to ten years in state prison and a $25,000 fine plus court costs of both trials.
Many longtime fans of the show vowed never to watch the popular sitcom again, but Rashad is unclear why the show has written off.
“I don’t know why anybody would feel that way,” Rashad says. “I just don’t accept what somebody says because they say it, and they say it in a loud voice. The internet has given a lot of anonymous people a very loud voice. And this, too, has happened before.”
Rashad, who has always defended her former costar and friend, has been quoted in the past as saying, “Forget those women,” in response to the women who came forward with accusations against Cosby. She claims she was misquoted, but her allegiance to Cosby remains unmoved.
While some are disheartened by Rashad’s stance, her faithful dream for the future will melt the frostiest of hearts.
“Last night I had this incredible dream,” Rashad told Bustle. “I dreamed I was in another country. And I walked into the halls of government in this other country, and the politicians were all sitting there like politicians do. And they were going at it, and I said to them, ‘Stop. Stop. Don’t you see what’s happening?’ The political parties were sitting on different sides, and I took the hand of one person on one side and one on the other. And I said, ‘If we can’t do this, it’s the end of everything and the end of us all. We have to do this,’ meaning take hands to join together. This is the only way. … This is a golden moment, honey, for us to come together and stop the madness.”
