Bill Cosby has been portrayed on television as a wholesome father, a respectable role model and an upstanding leader upon his peers. Recent allegations from former acquaintances have deluged Cosby with accusations of rape and sexual abuse. Actress Barbara Bowman has stepped forward with the courage to share her experience with Bill Cosby and how he lured her into his trap.
Barbara Bowman spoke exclusively to The Daily Mail as she explained the horrific events that lead to being raped by Bill Cosby when she was only 17 years old. Her harsh words toward Cosby were filled with hope that her story would encourage other young women, and men, to speak out on sexual abuse that they experienced, in order to stop abusers from repeating their offenses.
“I was drugged and raped by that man. He is a monster. He came at me like a monster. My hope is that others who have experienced sexual abuse will not be intimidated into silence by the famous, rich and powerful. If I can help one victim, then I’ve done my job.”
It has been 25 years since the alleged rape and abuse has occurred and Bowman shared her reasoning for finally speaking out by stating, “I’ve been silent too long. It’s time to raise a fuss. I’m a real person that this happened to. And it’s taken decades to get over what he did to me.” Her accusations have come out as Cosby is set to hit the television airwaves again in a new sitcom next summer.
Bowman shared that she was an acting student when Cosby first approached her, claiming that he was looking for new and young talent. At the time, she was nervous but also willing to work hard to climb her way up the ladder to success. Bill Cosby would meet with her privately, providing acting lessons, and eventually he started to take her cross country to learn beside him. She claims that she received the ‘royal treatment’ from Cosby as she learned from her mentor. However, his promises to make her a star never cam to fruition. She claims that Cosby coerced her to learn to act vulnerable in order to make it big, what she now claims was his way of targeting her to sexually abuse her.
“He zeroed in on that like a laser beam.’My mother totally trusted him, too. She would have never let me into dangerous hands. She sent me off with her blessings. She wanted me to have these opportunities.”
On top of being sexually abused, Barbara Bowman claims that Bill Cosby drugged her and raped her while she was under the influence. She claims that the drugs he gave her would not allow her to think clearly, allowing her to unkowingly give in to Cosby’s advances. Bowman’s entire interview can be read on The Daily Mail , be forewarned that some of it is graphic in detail.
What are your thoughts on the accusations? Is it possible that promises of making Bowman a star are resulting in the allegations, or has Bill Cosby lead a dark secret life while pulling the wool over the public’s eyes?
[Photo Courtesy: The Root]