BILL COSBY-FLORIDA-WOMAN-MAKES-ACCUSATION
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) _ A Florida woman has become the fourth in recent weeks to make a rape allegation against Bill Cosby. Therese Serignese (tur-EES’ SAYR’-uhg-neez) is a nurse who lives in Boca Raton. And she says in 1976 — when she was 19 — she met Cosby in a hotel gift shop. She says the comedian invited her to his show and afterward he gave her some pills that made her feel groggy. Serignese says her next memory was her being in a haze, naked and with Cosby having sex with her. The woman says she willingly stayed with Cosby after the alleged assault, but couldn’t say how long she was there or whether they had sex again during their time together. She also acknowledges that she stayed in touch with him over the years. In one instance, her sister contacted the comedian asking for financial support after Serignese was hurt in a car accident. Serignese says she was among those who offered to tell their story in a case in which a woman claimed Cosby raped her, using a similar approach. That case was settled out of court.
WASHINGTON (AP) _ One crisis management expert says the Bill Cosby situation is a textbook case of a celebrity in need of damage control. And Eric Dezenhall (DEHZ’-ehn-hawl) suggests that so far, the comedian is failing to win support for his side of the story. Dezenhall says with all the allegations of sexual assault swirling around Cosby, he’d have to prove that he is innocent to survive the rape allegation scandal. So far, Cosby has refused to comment on the situation, though his attorney has dismissed most of the claims as old and disproved. Dezenhall says the problem is compounded because Cosby has had such a wholesome image — and these claims are seen as out of character with that image.
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) _ After getting a warm welcome in the Bahamas for a show yesterday, Bill Cosby returns to the U-S tonight and will likely get an idea how fans will respond to the rape allegations that have been swirling around him. He is due to play a gig in Florida tonight. During the performance in the Bahamas, Cosby did not mention the allegations, sticking to telling jokes and stories about growing up in Philadelphia. There were few empty seats in the small theatre and no protests outside. The performance at a resort was a benefit for a women’s service organization.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Temple University says Bill Cosby remains a trustee of the school — despite the renewed attention given to rape allegations against him. The comedian attended the Philadelphia school and has served as a trustee since 1982. His Temple ties are strong. He’s the most famous alum and often speaks at commencement, drawing huge cheers. It was also a former Temple employee who claimed he drugged and fondled her at his home near Philly. In the case, which was settled out of court, Cosby was represented by the head of the Temple trustees board.
