Bill Cosby: From Courtroom to Classroom

Vanessa Obioha

Following a deadlocked jury and mistrial in his sexual assault trial, the prolific entertainer is eager to get back to work. What better way to maintain relevance in a society where his fame is rotting away than to organise an education tour for young people. The series of town hall meetings will help educate young people about problems their misbehavior could create, according to Bill Cosby’s spokesman, Andrew Wyatt.

“We’ll talk to young people. Because this is bigger than Bill Cosby. You know, this issue can affect any young person, especially young athletes of today, and they need to know what they’re facing when they’re hanging out and partying, when they’re doing certain things they shouldn’t be doing.”

“Laws are changing,” added Wyatt’s associate Ebonee Benson. “The statute of limitations for victims of sexual assault are being extended. So, this is why people need to be educated on a brush against the shoulder, you know anything at this point can be considered sexual assault. And it’s … a good thing to be educated about the law.”

It is not the first time Cosby is taking his message to the classroom. In recent years, the comedian and actor grew famous for scolding fellow African-Americans for poor grammar, sloppy dress and not valuing education, critiques that drew fire from some as elitist; the same way his planned seminar is being pilloried.
Wyatt revealed the tours will hold at Birmingham in July but specific dates and locations of other cities are yet to be revealed.

Cosby, who faced three counts of aggravated indecent assault, will be retried. According to the Associated Press, a juror disclosed that some jurors were concerned that prosecutors waited 10 years to charge him, expressing suspicion that politics had played a role in the case. The juror further revealed that the panel was almost evenly split in its deliberations, with a similar number of jurors wanting to convict the 79-year-old entertainer as well as acquit him.