In a story written for Vanity Fair, actress, model and Buffalo native Beverly Johnson says she was drugged by Bill Cosby.
Johnson penned the story for Vanity Fair, which was posted on their website Thursday afternoon, and details an encounter she allegedly had with the famous comedian in the mid-80s.
She writes that she auditioned for a role on “The Cosby Show” and after was invited to Cosby’s home. She went, and experienced no issues. But on her second visit, Johnson says she was drugged.
She says Cosby offered her a cappuccino from his espresso machine, and though she politely declined, he insisted. Johnson writes, “Now let me explain this: I was a top model during the 70s, a period when drugs flowed at parties and photo shoots like bottled water at a health spa. I’d had my fun and experimented with my fair share of mood enhancers. I knew by the second sip of the drink Cosby had given me that I’d been drugged—and drugged good.”
Johnson says her brain switched into automatic survival-mode and she began screaming at him an expletive-laced phrase, angering Cosby, who she says yanked her by the arm out of his house and put her in a taxi.
Johnson says she decided to now come forward with her story in light of other women who have shared their stories of alleged sexual assault by Cosby.
“Over the years I’ve met other women who also claim to have been violated by Cosby. Many are still afraid to speak up. I couldn’t sit back and watch the other women be vilified and shamed for something I knew was true,” she writes.
Cosby has canceled shows across the country following renewed allegations by women claiming decades-old sexual assaults by the 77-year-old comedian.
Cosby has never been charged with a crime and settled the only other sexual assault case against him. That case was filed by Andrea Constand, a former worker at Temple University in Philadelphia.
