Bill Cosby Looks for Lawsuit Win as Boston University Rescinds Honorary Degree

Entertainer and comedian Bill Cosby filed a lawsuit alleging seven of the woman who accused him of sexual assault engaged in “nothing more than an opportunistic attempt to extract financial gain from him.” Cosby, 78, is seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages and claimed the women inflicted emotional distress.

In July, PPD reported that Bill Cosby admitted to drugging several women with the intent to have sex with them, his favorability has plummeted among Americans. According to a recent survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports, just 21% of American adults now have a favorable view of Bill Cosby. Now, as a result of the revelations, Boston University announced Monday that it was rescinding an honorary degree they awarded to entertainer Bill Cosby in May 2014.

“Mr. Cosby’s admitted conduct, which the University learned about only after awarding him the degree, demonstrates that his character fails to reflect the integrity and virtues that the University values and esteems in members of its community, and in those persons the University holds up for this particular honor,” a statement released by BU said.

The university said in the statement the board of trustees voted to rescind the degree “based on a determination, supported by Mr. Cosby’s sworn deposition testimony, that his treatment of women has brought significant and lasting discredit upon himself and is inconsistent with the University’s mission and values.”

In 2005, Cosby admitted to obtaining quaaludes — which are no longer distributed — with the intent of giving them to women he wanted to have sex with. He further admitted to giving the drug to several women in testimony for a sexual-abuse case filed by former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. In documents obtained by The Associated Press, who sought the contents of the deposition in court, Cosby said he obtained seven quaalude prescriptions in the 1970s during questioning by Constand’s lawyer, who also asked if he had kept the powerful sedatives through the 1990s, after they were banned.

The outspoken comedian has been accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct in episodes dating back more than four decades. Cosby has never been charged with a crime, and the statute of limitations on most of the accusations has expired. Cosby resigned in December from the board of trustees at Temple University, where he was the popular face of the Philadelphia school in advertisements, fundraising campaigns and commencement speeches.