Frank Scotti, 90 years old and a former facilities manager for NBC’s Brooklyn studio, has come forward with the claim that he helped Bill Cosby cover up his womanizing-and worse-during the actor’s heyday.
Scotti told the New York Daily News said he decided to come forward now, after years of silence, because more and more women have come forward with allegations.
“I felt sorry for the women,” said Scotti.
According to Scotti, he made monthly payments to a bevy of different women during The Cosby Show’s eight-year run. Among those women was Shawn Thompson, whose daughter, Autumn, later claimed that Cosby was her father, and tried to sue the actor for $24 million in paternity and damages.
“I suspected that he was having sex with [the women who received payments],” said Scotti, “because the other person he was sending money to”-meaning Thompson-“he was definitely having sex with. Why else would he be sending money? He was sending these women $2,000 a month. What else could I think.”
Nor were monthly payments the most sordid thing Scotti was asked to do. On several occasions, he would arrange for modeling agencies to deliver young girls to Cosby’s dressing room, on the pretense of an audition. It was Scotti’s job to stand guard outside the dressing room door:
“[Cosby would tell me] ‘I want you to keep that one girl here.'” [Some of the models were as young as 16.] “‘I want to interview her for a part in the show….The owner just walked right out. She knew exactly what was going to go on. Then he’d tell me, ‘Stand outside the door and don’t let anyone in.’ Now you put that together and figure [out] why.
In other instances, Cosby would give Scotti cash and instruct him to purchase money orders-in Scotti’s name-to be distributed among women.
He also arranged for a second apartment for Cosby, when the comedian wanted to meet with yet another model.
Why did Scotti stop working for Cosby after so many years together? The same reason that he’s speaking out now: Guilt.
It bothered me….You’ve got all of these kids, every time. I used to like [Cosby], but that’s the reason I quit him after so many years-because of the girls.
Cosby’s lawyer, Martin Singer, ignored Scotti’s claims, asking “What evidence does he have of Mr. Cosby’s involvement? How would Scotti know if a woman was a model or a secretary? It appears that his story is pure speculation so that he can get his 15 minutes of fame.”
Cosby himself has yet to address any of the allegations made against him.
(Photo credits: Bill Cosby via WENN.com)
