Clair Huxtable Did Not Enable Bill Cosby

The claim that Clair Huxtable enabled Bill Cosby for his crimes is clearly false, as Clair Huxtable is a fictional character. The original post was likely conflating the fictional character with the actor who played her, Phylicia Rashad.

It’s no surprise social media users were quick to come to the character’s defense. Clair Huxtable is a beloved figure in television history, as when The Cosby Show first aired in 1984, she offered a rare portrait of black women. Her character was an affluent, working mother known for her beauty, wit, kindness, and strength. This kind of representation was significant for viewers, as complex black female characters were sparse. 

There have been some allegations by victims that Cosby exhibited predatory behavior even while on set, raising questions as to how much those working with him were either complicit, or simply turned the other cheek. Rashad defended Cosby in an exclusive interview in 2015 saying she had never seen any inappropriate behavior. “What you’re seeing is the destruction of a legacy,” she said. “And I think it’s orchestrated. I don’t know why or who’s doing it, but it’s the legacy. And it’s a legacy that is so important to the culture.” 

Sixty different women have accused Cosby of sexual assault and other sexual misconduct. In 2018, he was found guilty on three counts of aggravated sexual assault, and sentenced to three to ten years in prison.

The original poster responded to the backlash saying, “My allegiance will always be with the survivors and I will always side eye all the enablers.”