A Bill Cosby rant titled “I’m 83 and I’m Tired” has been making its way around Facebook and email in recent days, one in which the comedy legend seems to rant against people who mooch off government support and those looking to “spread the wealth.”
The only problem is that those aren’t Bill Cosby’s words at all. In fact, Cosby is pretty angry that people would think it’s coming from him.
The Bill Cosby rant first showed up a few years ago, this time titled “I’m 76 and I’m Tired,” and now it’s making the rounds again, prompting Snopes to write an article debunking the false story.
Snopes points out that the piece was actually written by Robert A. Hall, a former state senator from Massachusetts. It started making the rounds in August 2011 attributed to Bill Cosby however.
The Bill Cosby “I’m 83 and I’m Tired” rant reads, in part:
“I’m 83. Except for brief period in the 50’s when I was doing my National Service, I’ve worked hard since I was 17. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.
“I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
“I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them — with their own money.”
The rant goes on to target Muslims, people with tattoos, and self-absorbed athletes and politicians.
A few issues would jump out immediately. First, Bill Cosby has never identified as a right-wing conservative, and terms like “leftwing Congresscritters” sound nothing like the well-spoken doctor and more like something that would originate on right-wing radio. In fact, if Cosby were to rant about something, it would likely turn out funnier and much more well-written than the “I’m Tired” rant.
In fact, Bill Cosby has spoken out about the “I’m Tired” rant on his is website:
“There’s an email floating around — entitled ‘I’m 76 and tired’ — purportedly sent by me. I did not write the email, I did not send the email, I’m not 76, and I don’t subscribe to the ugly views expressed in the email. We are coming up to an important anniversary on Sunday [the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks], which is a day when we should all come together. Whoever wrote this email is not thinking about our country, or what is important.”
Bill Cosby added that, if you get the “I’m 76 and I’m Tired” email (or “I’m 83 and I’m Tired”), just hit delete.