With Guilty Verdict, Thompson Talks Cosby Legacy

Bill Cosby was officially found guilty after many alleged sexual assault cases were brought against the former comedian and television star. Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor and director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture in the Newhouse School, weighed in on exactly how Cosby’s legacy will be seen.

“What he was so well known for was playing these characters of great dignity, great gentle humanity and paternal qualities, and this is so completely the opposite,” Thompson told USA Today. “It would be like suddenly hearing a scandal about Santa Claus. You’ve got a person who was really important in the history of the development of the medium; a person who was the star of the one of the most popular programs of all time, who rescued a network; (but) someone who was playing (a character) completely at odds” with the stories told by his accusers.”