Janis Ian: Cosby Tried To Ban Me With Lesbian Rumors
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Songstress Janis Ian, whose groundbreaking “Society’s Child” controversially exposed the hypocrisy of those who objected to interracial relationships, says Bill Cosby tried to ban her from television by telling people she was gay.
Ian wrote that when she was 16, she was invited onto The Smothers Brothers Hour to perform her 1966 hit “Society’s Child.” Ian was receiving threats at the time for singing a song about interracial romance, and before the taping, exhaustion and nervousness overtook her and she fell asleep in her chaperone’s arms.
Ian went on to say that she received a message from her manager after the show, saying that Cosby saw her sleeping and decided to warn other shows not to have her on. Though she later appeared with Johnny Carson, Ian wrote that Cosby’s rumor insinuated that she was “not suitable family entertainment,” was probably a lesbian, and shouldn’t be on television.
Ian said that the incident has bothered her for years, for though she is, in fact, a lesbian, Cosby made the rumors when she had “barely been kissed,” as a teenager. She wrote how seeing so many accusers stand up to Cosby after years of disbelief gave her the inspiration to speak out herself:
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