Cosby was given a star on the Walk of Fame in November 1977, according to the Walk of Fame’s website, which highlights his television and stand-up comedy career and calls him a “sought-after spokesman.” The word “rapist” was written across Cosby’s star three times in marker in 2014 amid mounting allegations from multiple women that he sexually assaulted them decades ago.
Over the weekend, civil rights activist Earl Ofari Hutchinson said he collected more than 1,000 petition signatures calling for the removal of Cosby’s star in light of his April conviction for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University staffer Andrea Constand in his Pennsylvania home in 2004. He’s been accused by dozens of women of committing similar crimes, but has maintained his innocence.
Cosby, 81, was sentenced Tuesday to three to 10 years in prison.
Hutchinson called the chamber’s refusal to remove the star “despicable and hypocritical.” He said the decision “sends the horrible message that keeping a celebrity star is more important even when confronted with the issue of rape and violent sexual assault.”
