AceShowbiz -

Keshia Knight Pulliam has defended Bill Cosby over rape allegations against him. In an interview with Access Hollywood on Monday, January 5, Keshia was asked about Bill's scandal. "Ultimately, I really can't speak to that," she replied, "Whoever is involved, those are the people who were there. I wasn't there."

The former "The Celebrity Apprentice" star continued, "I can only speak to the great man that I know and that I love, who has been so generous, who has been such a philanthropist and giving back millions of dollars to education and schools. And just the man I grew up knowing. It's really not my place to speak on that."

"Unfortunately, in the court of public opinion everyone has formed their opinion, but we're still in America and you're innocent until proven guilty of any crimes," she added.

Keshia went on to praise his former on-screen father, "He was awesome, he was the guy who made jokes with me to make me remember my lines... he's the man who inspired me to be such an entrepreneur... I feel that his legacy and all the great things he's done speak volumes. Everything that's happened, it's so unfortunate, the whole thing is very, very unfortunate. I can't ignore the legacy he's built."

During the interview, Keshia was also asked why she didn't call Bill which caused her to be fired in the first episode of "The Celebrity Apprentice". She explained, "I hadn't talked to Mr. Cosby on the phone or in person in the last five years and it would have just been tacky to call him and say, 'Oh yeah, by the way, you know, I need this money.' Honestly, had my other donors come through in time, I didn't need that."