Entertainer and philanthropist Bill Cosby has long been a supporter of HBCUs but, after the continued scandal surrounding allegations of sexual assault from more than 50 women, he’s faced career-killing backlash.
Today, according to reports, it’s been confirmed that Cosby is no longer on Hampton University’s board of trustees.
The historically-black university released a statement to a local station in Hampton, Va, 13News Now: “For decades, Bill Cosby supported Hampton University as an institution of higher education, including serving on its board of trustees. He no longer serves on the board.”
Other schools who either no longer have Cosby involved in their educational programs or initiatives or have removed him from ties to their institutions, are Spelman; which recently discontinued a professorship he endowed,
and his own alma maters, Temple University and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. George Washington University also rescinded his honorary degree.The actor and comedian is facing three felony counts of sexual-related assault. He was charged, arraigned and booked on Dec. 30 on charges he drugged and assaulted Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadephia home in 2004.
Cosby appeared in court in late December but did not enter a plea, though through his lawyers he has claimed his innocence. He’s set to appear in court again Feb. 2.
Cosby’s lawyers had filed a motion asking for the charges against the comedian to be dismissed, and in a statement asserted that the charges were “illegally, improperly and unethically brought by District Attorney Kevin Steele and his office.”
Cosby has also filed a defamation in a lawsuit late last year against seven other accusers.
“Mr. Cosby states plainly that he neither drugged nor sexually assaulted the defendants and that each defendant has maliciously and knowingly published multiple false statements and accusations from Fall 2014 through the current day in an effort to cause damage to Mr. Cosby’s reputation and to extract financial gains,†Cosby’s attorney, Monique Pressley, tells USA TODAY in a statement.