Bill Cosby’s accusers break silence after his sexual assault sentence was overturned
A few of the women who previously accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault reacted to the news of his prison release.
On Wednesday (June 30), Bill Cosby was captured walking out of a prison in Pennsylvania after the state’s highest court dropped all charges connected to his alleged drugging and sexual assault of Andrea Constand. Though he managed to walk free from the related conviction, Constand was only one of several women who had accused him of sexual assault. Following his prison release, some of the other women who made allegations against him reacted to the news.
During a recent interview with CNN, Victoria Valentino, the Playboy model who alleged that Cosby raped her, said that she was “stunned” by the Supreme Court’s decision to vacate his conviction because she recently received a letter informing her that his lack of remorse and failure to participate in programs for abusers had resulted in the denial of his parole.
“For this to come out of left field is — it’s a gut punch,” Valentino said. “There’s no other way to describe it.”
“What does that say about a woman’s worth?” she continued. “A woman’s value? Do our lives mean nothing? All of the lives that he damaged. I’m infuriated. I’m shaking.”
Sammie Mays, who said the comedian drugged her in the 80s, told TMZ that the “disrespectful and despicable” decision was inconsiderate of Constand’s feelings on the matter.
Additionally, Sarita Butterfield, a former Playboy model who accused Cosby of assaulting her, opened up about her thoughts on the actor’s overturned sexual conviction. “I’m surprised and shocked with today’s news of Cosby’s release,” she said. “It seems the justice system served the criminal, in this case, as opposed to the victims. At this point, I just hope that he took time to reflect on the pain and anguish his actions caused so many women. And also, puts in the work towards becoming a better person.”