Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 54, the Cosby Show star, tragically passed away this week after disclosing all allegations of sexual assault against Bill Cosby.
Prior to his tragic drowning death, Malcolm-Jamal Warner had finally broken his silence about his complex emotions regarding Bill Cosby, nearly ten years after the comedian faced accusations of drugging and sexually assaulting over 50 women.
Although Warner, who passed away this week aged 54, had remained largely silent about the claims, he recently shared his thoughts during an interview with journalist Jemele Hill.
Hill directly questioned Warner about how Cosby’s criminal history had impacted his own income from The Cosby Show and whether he harboured any bitterness.
“No. I understand how things operate in this industry. For one, and that’s why the situation is so complex, man. I have no way of defending him or his actions. However, I am unable to completely throw him under the bus.
Warner gained fame portraying Theo Huxtable on the beloved sitcom which ran from 1984 to 1992, reports the Mirror US.
In 1986, he received an Emmy nomination for his performance, and he also hosted Saturday Night Live that year.
Cosby’s legal issues started in 2014 and 2015 when numerous women alleged shocking sexual assault and claimed the 88-year-old had allegedly drugged and assaulted them before attacking them.
According to CNN, Cosby was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of three aggravated indecent assault counts in 2018.
Pennsylvania’s State Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2021 even though Cosby’s reputation had already been severely damaged and The Cosby Show’s syndication broadcasts had stopped. Warner argued that the situation is more nuanced than the general public would have us believe despite the controversy.
Most people will never understand, he said, because it is so complex and has so many shades of gray.
Warner told the New York Post in 2018 that “I can see why some people can’t watch the show and enjoy it because of everything that’s happening right now.” However, I believe there is a generation of young people who have had their families or pursued higher education as a result of that show’s influence.
You can’t discount its impact on television culture and American culture, he continued, “so it’s kind of like that.”
Warner continued to be well-known, appearing in sitcoms like Malcolm and Eddie and playing serious roles, most recently in FOX’s The Resident.
Along with the 2015 film Robert Glasper Experiment starring Lalah Hathaway, he also received a Grammy for Best Traditional RandB Performance.
The actor was on a family vacation in Costa Rica when he tragically perished. The Costa Rican National Police confirmed to ABC News that Warner perished close to Cocles Beach in Limon, Costa Rica.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply