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Phylicia Rashad Suggests Bill Cosby May Be A Victim Of False Accusations

For eight years, Cliff and Clair Huxtable were every The Cosby Show fans’ surrogate parents. The doctor and lawyer couple, along with their brood of children, took viewers on adventures with their family every week, and while The Cosby Show has since been a beloved classic, it has also become controversial. The ongoing accusations against Bill Cosby have unfolded in recent years, and now the 83-year-old disgraced icon is serving three to 10 years in prison for aggravated indecent assault.

Cosby’s sitcom family has refrained from speaking about the accusations plaguing the TV dad—allegations that Bill Cosby has vehemently denied until this day. Phylicia Rashad, the legendary actress who portrayed Clair Huxtable, recently spoke with Bustle about Cosby’s controversies and was asked her thoughts on people who have shunned The Cosby Show.

“I don’t know why anybody would feel that way,” said Rashad. “I just don’t accept what somebody says because they say it, and they say it in a loud voice. The internet has given a lot of anonymous people a very loud voice. And this, too, has happened before.” She then brought up acclaimed author Zora Neale Hurston who Rashad said “died a pauper” because a “vindictive” neighbor accused Hurston of molesting her 10-year-old son. It wasn’t true as Hurston wasn’t even in the country at the time, but leaks to newspapers ruined Hurston’s reputation.

“You should go back and look at some charges that were brought up against her that didn’t make any sense,” Rashad added. “And look at what happened when the judge had thrown out the case, but it had gone through [Black magazines], through this step and the other, and her books were taken off the shelf.”

Cryptically, she continued: “And so I know what I know, and I just stay with what I know.vAnd it will happen in time, that this will come around another way, as it often does. And then people say, ‘Oh.’” This interview has caused a discussion on social media as some have expressed their disappointment in what seems to be her defense of Cosby, while others agree with her stance.

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Kanye West Joins Chicago Ceremony Honoring His Mother With Dr. Donda West Way

Kanye West was in Chicago for a street naming ceremony honoring his late mother, Dr. Donda West, and celebrating her lasting contributions to the city, her impact on education and the arts, and her influence on her son’s life.

A portion of 78th Street bears the official designation of Dr. Donda West Way, an appropriate tribute to a woman whose legacy remains deeply entangled with Chicago. Local news covered the ceremony, attended by community leaders, and Ye could be seen clapping in the background, wearing shades, as the new street sign was unveiled.

The event celebrated Donda West’s accomplishments and her impact on the people in her life. It was also a moment of profound personal significance for Kanye. His mother played a large part in building his confidence and supporting his musical ambitions, leading him down the path that would ultimately make him one of the most recognizable artists in music.

West had already paid tribute to his mother in his 2021 album Donda. The project took 10 years to complete, the amount of time it took Ye to process her tragic passing. Donda’s voice is present throughout the album, adding another personal element to a project centered on her memory and legacy.

The Chicago ceremony falls during a busy time for West. The artist is on a world tour and played a couple of shows in Chicago just a few weeks ago. Despite the ongoing controversy about his recent past and public reception, his repeated returns to the stage have underscored the enduring size of his audience.

Currently, the unveiling of Dr. Donda West Way is not about music but about celebrating Donda West’s life and accomplishments and the impact she continues to have through the legacy she left behind.

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DJ Akademiks Opens the Door to Pusha T Amidst Drake Controversy

DJ Akademiks seems to be changing his tune on Pusha T after the leak of the rapper’s alleged album with Pharrell, though the project reportedly includes several direct shots at Drake.

The reaction is notable as Akademiks and Pusha T have been on completely unique sides of the long-running Drake-Pusha T divide. Pusha T’s infamous beef with Drake reached a major milestone in 2018 with the release of “The Story of Adidon.” Akademiks has an OVO chain and has been a big supporter of Drake, which makes his latest comments about Pusha T even more shocking.

The two have had their differences, though they have never gone back and forth publicly over the years. Akademiks, however, responded to the leaked project with a more sympathetic view of Pusha T’s position. Akademiks didn’t just point out the rapper’s continued Drake references; he also recognized that Drake has been beefing with Pusha T and Pharrell over the last few years.

Things got spicy when Akademiks reminded him that Pusha T has liked a couple of his posts before. That detail apparently has Akademiks considering reaching out directly to talk with Pusha T.

Does Pusha T even want that kind of conversation? Still, Akademiks’ comments imply that he believes there’s room for a more productive discourse between two personalities who have historically been on opposite sides of the Drake-Pusha T feud.

For now, the leaked album has provided an unexpected opening for dialogue. Akademiks’ openness to Pusha T’s side, even with his clear ties to Drake, shifts the conversation away from taking sides and toward whether a direct conversation could actually happen.

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