New documentary ahead of comic's trial

The BBC is making an hour-long documentary about Bill Cosby’s fall from grace.

Cosby: Fall Of An American Icon will tell how the comedian came to face a criminal trial for sexual assault a decade after the accusations were first made.

It will air on BBC Two as Cosby prepares to face trial in his home state of Pennsylvania on June 5,  charged with sexual assault on Andrea Constand. The case comes amid accusations of similar behaviour from dozens of other women, many of which happened too long ago for the comedian to stand criminal trial

The documentary will contrast his TV image as a role model to African-Americans with the allegations that he was privately drugging and raping women with impunity. Cosby has denied all allegations of sexual assault.

The BBC says: ‘Accusations from numerous women had fallen on deaf ears for more than a decade, but  it was Cosby’s own public pronouncements on morality which finally brought both a criminal case and public disdain.

‘When Hannibal Buress, an African-American comedian, publicly denounced Cosby as a rapist in 2014 without reprisal, dozens of women came forward alleging similar behaviour. This film explores why it took so long for allegations about Bill Cosby to be taken seriously, and hears extraordinary testimony from the journalists, co-stars and the accusers who fought for years for this side of the Cosby story to be heard.’

Interviewees include Richard Pryor’s widow Jennifer Lee Pryor, as well as accusers, fellow Cosby actor Lili Bernard, and former actor and Playboy bunny Victoria Valentino.

Cosby: Fall Of An American Icon is being made by Sugar Films for BBC Two.

Published: 23 Feb 2017