How the Cosby Scandal Ruined the Huxtables

Dr Heathcliff Huxtable is dead to me.

And it’s a shame because without Dr. Huxtable, there is no Mrs. Huxtable. Theo, Sondra, Denise, Vanessa and Rudy have never been. That television family I grew up with, wishing I were a part of; never was. Because all I can see now in the patriarch of the Brooklyn family is an accused rapist. A sick bastard who preyed on women. And it’s a damn shame because I really like Cockroach, Cousin Pam, Bud and the chubby white kid from next door who was always running home.

I am smart enough to separate the actor from the character, right? I should be able see Cliff Huxtable without seeing Bill Cosby. I should be able to suspend reality and accept that the “Cosby” show that I have equated for years with Bill Cosby is still the pure family values show that all black people felt good about. I should still feel good about having had those positive images of a wholesome black family with successful professionals even though the image of it is…well, it’s a bit tarnished now.

Here is what I know: Bill Cosby has been accused by at least seven women of sexual assault. He supposedly drugged them and forced them to have sex with him. Then he somehow used in incredible power and influence in the business to keep it quiet for decades.

Here is what I believe: Where there is smoke, there is fire. And there is definitely smoke. In fact there is an explosion and there is shrapnel and embers flying everywhere. At some point Cosby is going to have to face his accusers and if it turns out that he is guilty, may he get what’s coming to him.

Normally I do not care about television and movie stars. My default stance is that they be treated just like any other person. You do the crime you do the time and move on. No skin off my back. I don’t know you. You don’t know me. It doesn’t affect me personally.

But this is different.

I still cannot separate Cosby from Huxtable. The show was not called the Huxtables. It was the Cosby Show. He gave his name to the show. And in the Cosby Show I found a sort of kindred connection with Theo Huxtable. We shared a name. We were same age. I related to his teen-age high jinx. I envied the relationship he had with his father, the accused rapist. See, I can’t do it. He killed it for me. Bill Cosby killed innocence. Killed Dr. Huxtable. Killed Theo. Killed the Huxtables. Killed the dream of the idealistic black family.

Interestingly enough, I am less upset about the fact that Cosby has hypocritically, over the years, aimed to be a conscience for African-Americans. He has hypocritically condemned our use of certain derogatory words, our cursing, our acceptance of certain movies and roles he thought to be degrading. Now he has fallen off his moral horse and has been thoroughly trampled, and with it my view and feeling of one of my all time favorite shows

My selfish wish is that Bill Cosby would just go quietly into the night so I can reconcile my coming-of-age years with the show that helped me along that period. I need time to pry apart the actor from the character. I need to be disgusted by Bill Cosby without carrying over the feelings for “America’s favorite dad.”

My unselfish wish is that if he is found to be guilty that be made to suffer the consequences and go away.

Note: Theo Semper is an Associate Editor with MNI Alive Media