Pulliam was seen walking arm-in-warm with her 'The Cosby Show' co-star into the courthouse, saying she would 'accept whatever verdict' the jury hands down.
- Jun 6, 2017
AceShowbiz - Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial began in Norristown, PA, on Monday, June 5. The actor faced charges of allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia-area home in 2005.
As reported before, some of his "The Cosby Show" co-stars were expected to make appearance during the trial. Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Cosby's daughter on the show, was seen walking arm-in-arm with the 79-year-old actor into the courthouse.
To reporters outside the Montgomery County Courthouse, she said as quoted by E! News, "I came to support because this is where you hear the facts. This is where the truth happens." She defended her support for the actor, "Ultimately, it's easy to support someone and to be in their corner when things are great. But true family, friendship, integrity is how people show up and support when things aren't looking so great, when they aren't shining."
She added that she would "accept whatever verdict" the jury hands down. "Right now, it's the jury's decision, and it's the jury's job to decide guilt and innocence. It's not mine or anyone else's," she said. "As an advocate for women and with my nonprofit the Kamp Kizzy Foundation, which is all about empowerment, self-esteem for girls, I don't take these charges lightly. I don't condone sexual assault in any way shape or form."
Pulliam went on defending her decision to support Cosby, "My truth was to be here and to be supportive, and it's not always easy to do what you feel is truthful and what you feel is right when there's so much controversy. But ultimately, that's just how I've lived my life-in terms of being very genuine and authentic to who I am. And I can't stop doing that now. I just pray for all parties involved because this isn't a great situation. No matter what side of the coin you're on."
Cosby took to Twitter to post a photo of him with Pulliam. He thanked her for showing up at the trial.
Thank you to Cliff and Claire's 4 year old daughter (Rudy) and the Brilliant Spelman Alumnus#TheCosbyShow#KeshiaKnightPulliam pic.twitter.com/5Ax9OiCjPV
— Bill Cosby (@BillCosby) June 5, 2017
In the trial, the prosecution claimed that Andrea Constand, who was the Director of Operations for the women's basketball team at Temple University, hoped she would strike up "what she believed was a sincere friendship" with "big donor" Cosby, whom she viewed as a mentor. But one day, their relationship took a dark turn, the prosecution claimed. "Cosby bought her three blue pills, 'three friends for you to make you relax.' Andrea couldn't move, couldn't feel, laid there lifeless, in moments of delusion."
The prosecutor added that Constand continued to behave as if nothing had happened "to maintain some sense of normalcy." They maintained contact until a breakdown in January 2005. A year later, Constand told her mother Gianni what happened and she immediately called Cosby, who admitted that he had given her daughter pills and then engaged in sexual contact with her butt, but it was all consensual.
The prosecutor argued, "The question is did Andrea Constand have the ability to consent. The answer to that question is 'no.' " Cosby's team, however, claimed that while he did give Andrea pills, it was "in style with consenting women" and that Andrea "was never incapacitated."
Kelly Johnson, meanwhile, appeared as the first witness at the trial. The woman, who was working for his agent at the William Morris Agency, recalled that Cosby invited her to have lunch at the Bel Air Hotel in 1996 and then gave her a large white pill that he claimed would relax her. When she refused to swallow it, Cosby made her do it and claimed that he would never ask her to do anything that would be harmful.
Soon she felt like she was "under water" and became woozy. She remembered waking up with "him being behind me, making those grunting sounds. I remember wanting to pull up my dress and wanting to cover myself but not being able to."
Cosby's attorney, Brian McMonagle, questioned why she didn't immediately report the alleged attack. "I was very afraid because I have a secret about the biggest celebrity in the world at that time and it was just me, just me and my word against his," she explained.
More than 50 women have come forward to accuse Cosby of sexual assault. The comedian has denied any wrongdoing, claiming in an interview with Sirius XM radio host Michael Smerconish last month that he's the victim of racism.
