Judd Apatow goes on lengthy anti-Cosby Twitter rant

 

This weekend, the New York Post‘s “Page Six” column ran a story detailing Bill Cosby’s involvement with a group of private detectives the disgraced comedian hired to dig up dirt on his accusers. In the Post‘s words, Cosby “is implementing a scorched-earth strategy in which anything negative in his accusers’ pasts is fair game.” According to one insider, Cosby’s rationale goes like this:

 

If you’re going to say to the world that I did this to you, then the world needs to know, What kind of person are you? Who is this person that’s saying it?…You can’t say that I put something in your coffee, threw you in a cab and then you go on and live a high-profile life, a famous life and you never complain.

 

That last reference is to model Beverly Johnson, who recently accused Cosby of spiking her cappuccino during a visit to his home in the 1980s. Johnson’s story is similar to most of the others told by Cosby’s accusers, who now number somewhere between two and three dozen.

This reveal was apparently the last straw for Judd Apatow, who proceeded to spend most of the next few days attacking Cosby on Twitter, defending himself from attacks made by Cosby defenders, and generally trying to raise awareness about the Cosby issue (as if the story hadn’t reached critical mass by now).

Here’s a sampling:

 

so @Centre_Square – are you really going to let Bill Cosby perform on your stage January 7?

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014

 

You too @BudGardens Jan 8? Is Cosby only popular in Ontario Canada at this point? Do people still find him delightful after 30 accusers?

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014

 

.@nvraine @Centre_Square I always wonder why some people try so hard to not believe women who have been assaulted. What is the root of that?

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 27, 2014

 

@CenCalDevil I wish he wasn’t a rapist too. I am not sure why you feel the need to protect him. But your rage can’t be making you happy.

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 28, 2014

 

@78Proto I thought you were born to make a difference? Read up. All the info is out there. Why the instinct to defend a monster?

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 28, 2014

 

@BigchefHarris Yoda would say different. Hitler died without being convicted of murder. That doesn’t make him innocent.

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 28, 2014

 

I think one in a Hundred thousand people support Cosby. I am gonna stop responding to them so often. It is just maddening though. So cold.

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 28, 2014

 

“@nytimes: Cosby Team’s Strategy: Hush Accusers, Insult Them, Blame the Media http://t.co/c66SKQ49c0”. Read this. So evil. Shakespearean.

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 30, 2014

As more than one media outlet has pointed out, it’s unlikely that Cosby will be charged with any crimes–so far, the statute of limitations has run out on every accusation. This is something that Judy Huth learned just a couple of weeks ago, and, barring a successful civil case, is the reason that the damage to Cosby’s reputation is probably all he’ll sustain. At best, the persistence of this story will result in a serious discussion about sexual abuse and the factors that can keep its victims silent indefinitely; at worst, the court of public opinion will continue to return hung juries.

 

(Photo credit: WENN)