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Kathie Lee Gifford, who defended Bill Cosby in the past, admits for the first time that the comedian did come onto her once. She says Cosby made a pass at her during one of the last times she saw him while she was on the road with him on a comedy tour years ago.

"I along with so many Americans and people around the world don't want these (accusations) to be true," Gifford opens up on the Tuesday, December 16 episode of "Today" show. "I will admit, towards the very last times I saw him, he did try to kiss me."

"I said, 'Bill, no, we're friends,' and he said, 'OK, goodnight,' and I said, 'Goodnight.' And I went to my room, and he went into his room," she recalls. "A lot of married men come onto single women, ... but once I said, 'No, absolutely not,' he respected it."

Gifford says she has read Beverly Johnson's story about Cosby spiking her drink and raping her while she was powerless. The TV host admits it gave her "chill" because "every night when we'd come off stage and Bill would be going on-stage, he would have made cappuccinos for all three of us. And I always thought it was such a kindness and it was so sweet."

"I just don't want it to be true, but I'm not saying that the women are liars," she adds. "I'm just saying I never personally saw it with my own two eyes." She additionally says, "From my own personal experiences, it didn't happen."