Bill Cosbywas born on August 10, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Temple University and got his start on the NBC hit TV showI Spy,becoming the first African-American to win an Emmy Award. Cosby went on to createFat Albertand the legendaryThe Cosby Show. Both shows provided a platform for African-Americans while teaching them important life lessons about standing on one’s morals and the harmful effects of racism.
As of late, however,Cosby has been accusedof some viciously heinous crimes, which include drugging and sexually assaulting women. He was, in fact, convicted for his crime but was later released, theconviction being overturned. He would continue to plead the fifth andassert his innocenceafter the case was revived, but the damage had already been done. His career took a downturn and the public largely turned against him, as they felt betrayed and let down by America’s dad.
Whether it exists or not, andwhatever it might meanto a person, the very idea of ‘cancel culture’ has nonetheless shaped many sociopolitical conversations. With either social justice or simple outrage, it’s easy to understand why people don’t want to work with Cosby. However, does that necessarily mean that his work needs to be abandoned? Should fans disavowThe Cosby Showcompletely? What are the arguments?
Cosby, the person, is still controversial
As stated previously, Cosby became a figure who was comical and easy to like, something which hid the fact that he was a sexual deviant preying on impressionable women and using their naivety (and his power) to his own advantage. Having assaulted dozens of women, it seems impossible that Hollywood would be willing to take him back.
Before all ofhis wrongdoings were publicized, Cosby seemed to be a standup guy who contributed to Black communities and gave to many causes, including literacy, HCBUs, mental health and education. While his work has stood out in the communities that he has represented, all the good will and welfare in the world doesn’t make up for the fact of his crimes, or beingwhat some calla “moral degenerate.”
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Having talent, money or power does not excuse people from crimes. R. Kelly and his music was ousted from the Spotify platform when he was outed as a pedophile, Harvey Weinstein was jailed after he raped multiple women and Matt Lauer was fired from NBC for harassment. Actions have consequences.
Cosby has already had his image irreparably damaged, and it seems that, given his age, he will not be making a comeback (despitehis own efforts). Watching his previous shows might seem jarring, understanding the history behind the creator. His actions, too, certainly have consequences, and the consequences are harsh.
‘The Cosby Show’ is still enlightening
Despite what people may think about Bill Cosby himself,The Cosby Showto this day remains enlightening and funny, andactually helped peoplegrow up and develop at the time. Case in point: in one episode, Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable talks to his son Theo about the boy’s failing grades and what he plans to do with his life after high school. Theo explains to his father that he won’t be going to college, which doesn’t seem to surprise Cliff due to his poor grades.
Theo explains that he’ll just get a mediocre job like a “regular person.” Cliff, using monopoly money as an example, draws up an analogy of how Theo would hypothetically use his money if he would just settle for a job beneath his skill and intelligence. Theo becomes despondent when all of his money is taken by the end of the analogy. At that point, Theo learned the value of having an education, the importance of not settling and the relevance of striving for better.
While it could often be cheesy in a ‘family sitcom’ way, this was one of the legitimate reasons why so many people considered Bill Cosby (or rather, Cliff Huxtable, the idealized Cosby persona he never was) to be “America’s dad.” Appreciating these aspects ofThe Cosby Showcould even be considered an act of reclaiming the power Cosby took from so many people’s memories; in some arguable ways, letting him destroy the show thatso many people loved(in addition to the lives) lets Cosby win. Perhaps there is a way to still harbor healthy fictions.
Separating the artist from the art
One thing that is obvious is that no matter how rampant ‘cancel culture’ grows to be, certain problems regarding free speech, censorship and creative license make it difficult to simply discard works likeThe Cosby Show. Even further,there’s an argumentto be made against trashing both the art and the artist, even if the person has done some egregious things.
While Cosby should obviously be reprimanded for his crimes (and maybe, assome believe might happen, go right back to prison), that doesn’t necessarily mean that the created work should fall by the wayside. He was hardly the only person involved inThe Cosby Show; the great work of co-creator Ed Weinberger and co-stars Phylicia Rashad, Sabrina Le Beauf, Geoffrey Owens, Lisa Bonet and numerous others shouldn’t be wholly discarded because of Cosby, just assome of Mia Farrow’s greatest acting achievementsshouldn’t be tarnished because of the behavior of her abuser.
Related:Reports of Bill Cosby Getting Slapped with a Chicken Patty in Jail Are Fake News
For many, separating the artist from the art is essential, and reminds people that sometimes the work that is left behind can be so much more inspirational and powerful than the simple biographies attached to it. The argument goes that, if all the immoral or problematic acts that creators have done automatically disqualify the good things they create, then there would be little appreciation for art in general. This also goes beyond art; should we forget the theory of relativity becauseAlbert Einstein was allegedlya racist, misogynistic serial adulterer?
Regardless of which side a person falls on with separating the art from the artist, it seems essential to simply respect one another. If someone is bothered and upset by a certain artist’s work, nobody should tell them that they have no right to be. Likewise, if someone still likes to re-watchThe Cosby Show, that person shouldn’t automatically be condemned. It seems best to learn from these mistakes and appreciate the lessons from the past, so that future dialogues about the subject won’t lead to merely more division.
So, willCosby make a comeback? Most likely not, but regardless of whether someone understandably findsThe Cosby Showstill relevant and funny to this day, it’s impossible to ignore its influence, and could be dangerous to take the conversation too far.
