Attorney: claims ‘completely illogical’
Cosby’s attorney, Martin Singer, releases a statement in which he calls the new sexual assault allegations against Cosby “completely illogical”.
The new, never-before-heard claims from women who have come forward in the past two weeks with unsubstantiated, fantastical stories about things they say occurred 30, 40 or even 50 years ago have escalated past the point of absurdity. These brand new claims about alleged decades-old events are becoming increasingly ridiculous, and it is completely illogical that so many people would have said nothing, done nothing and made no reports to law enforcement or asserted civil claims if they thought they had been assaulted over a span of so many years. Lawsuits are filed against people in the public eye every day. There has never been a shortage of lawyers willing to represent people with claims against rich, powerful men, so it makes no sense that not one of these new women who just came forward for the first time now ever asserted a legal claim back at the time they allege dthey had been sexually assaulted. This situation is an unprecedented example of the media’s breakneck rush to run stories without any corroboration or adherence to traditional journalistic standards … It is long past time for this media villification of Mr. Cosby to stop.
‘I was NOT taken advantage of by Cosby’
Raven-Symone, who played Cosby’s grand-daughter on The Cosby Show takes to instagram to say she has not been abused by Cosby:
I was NOT taking advantage of by Mr. Cosby when I was on the Cosby Show! I was practically a baby on that show and this is truly a disgusting rumor that I want no part of! Everyone on that show treated me with nothing but kindness. Now keep me out of this!
‘Beyond our knowledge’
Werner and Carsey, producers of The Cosby Show, speak about the allegations against Cosby:
The Bill we know was a brilliant and wonderful collaborator on a show that changed the landscape of television. These recent news reports are beyond our knowledge or comprehension.
‘Not a lie’
In a follow-up interview on ET, Dickinson defends her claims against Cosby in a tearful interview..
It is not a lie. It is my right as a woman. I have to speak up and you have to be able to go in and just be brave and do it for all the women that can’t come forward. The loss of innocence that I suffered and that these women suffered is why I’m sitting here today. And I don’t care about what Cosby or networks or anybody says, you will hear me.
Green, another of Cosby’s accusers, calls into ET during Dickinson’s interview. Dickinson:
You were there, you know what happened to you. I didn’t go to the police the next day because I didn’t have the courage or the strength.
Issues statement on TNA departure
Spike TV issues a statement on parting ways with TNA Wrestling .
Our partnership with TNA Wrestling will officially come to an end with our last telecast on December 24. Dixie Carter and her team have been incredible partners to work with over the past 9 years, delivering high-action entertainment and strong ratings. As Spike continues to evolve into a network reaching a broader audience, we continue to look across our schedule to find opportunities to add original scripted and non-scripted programming that appeals to a wider demographic. On behalf of everyone at Spike, we would like to wish Dixie and TNA all the best and continued success.
‘Traumatic brain injury’
Morgan’s attorney says that Morgan suffered a brain injury so traumatic in his June limo accident that he may never fully recover.
When you have a traumatic brain injury it takes a very long time to find out how you’re going to do and how much you’re going to recover. You just don’t know. So that’s where he is. He’s still fighting and trying to live his life at the same time and trying to get better, and he’s just not better. We’re hoping and praying to get him back to where he was. But the jury’s out. He’s fighting to get better, and if there’s a chance for him to be back to the Tracy Morgan he once was, he’s going to try to do that. But we just don’t know because of the severity of the injuries that he sustained and the fact that he had such a severe brain injury.
‘He’s a serial rapist’
In an appearance with Don Lemon on CNN, Tarshis adds more details about her attempt to get Cosby to stop raping her by saying she had an infection.
I thought I was very clever in saying that, but he was more clever. And instead he made me have oral sex with him, which really was horrible. To me it was much much worse than if he had just raped me the normal way.
She also describes Cosby as a “serial rapist”.
He’s a serial rapist actually. When you rape at least 15 women then that’s a serial rapist in my opinion.
Skeptical of rape accuser
Goldberg expresses her thoughts regarding Cosby’s rape allegations, past settlements and the 13 rape victims.
Quite honestly I am sorry having been on both sides of this where people allege that you do something doesn’t matter now. I have a lot of questions for the lady, maybe she will come on.
Lawyer releases statement
Cosby’s lawyer, John P. Schmitt, releases a statement on Cosby’s website regarding the sexual assault allegations that have been leveled against Cosby.
Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the outpouring of support and assure them that, at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will be no further statement from Mr. Cosby or any of his representatives.
Producers defend marriage scene
Lifetime’s Aaliyah: Princess of R&B biopic executive producers Chase and Farley defend their choice to include the controversial marriage between R.Kelly and Aaliyah. They argue that Kelly was a part of Aaliyah’s life and an important influence. Chase:
The evidence is there that they were married, we tried to keep it very tasteful and respectful in our portrayal. Biopics are hard people have an opinion and social media allows them to voice that opinion. But at the end of the day, our goal was to make the best movie possible.
Producers defend biopic
Executive producers Howard Braunstein, Debra Martin Chase and author Christopher Farley disclose that their aim is to create a very tasteful tribute to Aaliyah. Farley:
We’re trying to honor this woman and tell this story of this journey and her overcoming obstacles. We felt we had enough of the music to still make a terrific film, and we’re excited to tell the story we were telling.
PC World interview
Karpeles agrees to an interview with PC World on the condition that he will not discuss other than in general terms what happened at the company, the police investigation into it and other litigation involving him. He says Tibanne now has 13 employees and still does Web and server hosting as well as Web and mobile application development. Tibanne’s graphics editing software subsidiary, Shade3D, has about 10 staff.
I’ve been trying to keep Tibanne and Shade3D running well so we can maybe assist with the Mt. Gox bankruptcy…I cannot apologize enough for what happened. While I believe I did everything I could do to prevent this from happening, it still happened. Right now, I’m trying to do my best to cooperate with the bankruptcy process and the ongoing investigation.
Karpeles says Bitcoin needs the kind of physical security measures that are used to protect gold, including 24-hour operation centers manned by guards and accessed only through hardware tokens, with staff who have undergone extensive background checks.
[Without major investments in security infrastructure] most likely we’re going to see more companies getting hacked, or bitcoin being stolen.
Reassures fans
Iwata addresses public concerns about his gaunt appearance post-surgery via Twitter.
I saw many worried comments over how thin I’ve become. The truth is that after a major operation, I lost weight, but during these past two and a half months, thankfully my weight has stabilized, and I’m progressing well. I would truly like to thank my doctors, the hospital staff, and everyone who has assisted me.
Completes Moon mission
China completes its first return mission to the moon with the successful re-entry and landing of an unmanned probe in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region. The probe was on an eight-day mission to fly around the moon and head back to Earth. The mission tests technology to be used in the Chang’e-5, China’s fourth lunar probe, which will gather samples from the moon’s surface and will be launched around 2017
Columbia mattress protest
Hundreds of students carry 28 mattresses and leave them at the door of Bollinger’s home, in a protest organized by No Red Tape, an anti-rape campus group whose members wear red X’s and stickers urging passers by to “Imagine a world without rape”. The mattresses bear slogans like “NO MORE” and “CARRY THAT WEIGHT”. Students:
The administration isn’t really paying attention to what’s important. They’re dancing around the issue, saying it’s not really Columbia’s problem but society in general’s. Though they’re the people who are not expelling the rapists.
As a trans man, I feel sometimes that … I need to be involved in the male part of it. The entire reason that assault happens is because of the attacker, not the victim.
‘New world order’
Hagel says ISIS is reordering global geopolitics:
I think we are living through one of these historic, defining times. I think we are seeing a new world order. What we’re seeing in the Middle East with ISIL is going to require a steady, long-term effort. It’s going to require coalitions of common interests, which we are forming.
‘Worst is over’ for local papers
Highfields says, contrary to the predictions of media pundits, that Johnston Press will still be printing newspapers in five years. The decline in Johnston Press revenues has slowed from 4.3pc in the first half of the year to 3.1pc in the third quarter. The company cited 40pc year-on-year growth in the audience for its websites, to 27 million users in September, as the main force behind the improvement.
We’re increasingly confident in saying the worst is over for the regional press. We might not be completely out of the woods but the growth in digital audiences, and in fact the performance of print, tells us we’ll get there.
Abramovic supports Sulkowicz
Abramovic declares her support for Sulkowicz, and expresses interest in working with her in the future.
Many people don’t have the willpower to stick to something no matter what, and that’s what she’s doing.
Comments on Hell in a Cell
Ross updates the blog section of his website to discuss mid-card champions and WWE’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.
I still think that creativity as it relates to stunts, etc for this Sunday’s HIAC will be challenging considering that there will be two Hell in a Cell matches on the show both in a PG world. Anxious to see how the creative minds come up with elements that will make the two main events special, different and perceived as ‘dangerous.’
‘Target-rich environment’
U.S. officials say the ISIS offensive on Kobani is concentrating the group’s manpower in a small area and presenting a target for air strikes. U.S. CentCom chief Army Gen. Lloyd Austin:
The enemy has made a decision to make Kobani his main effort…Now, my goal is to defeat and ultimately destroy ISIL. And if [the enemy] continues to present us with major targets … then clearly, we’ll service those targets, and we’ve done so very, very effectively here of late
White House Press secretary Josh Earnest says the administration sees the assault as an opportunity:
That has created a rather target-rich environment around Kobani for American and coalition air strikes that when they see clusters of fighters or they see depots of material or supplies that are critical to the success of those fighters, it’s easier to take them out.