He fired her for getting pregnant. He was "sinister"
IRL. But would Denise Huxtable straight up trash her TV dad — a.k.a. "Mr. Righteous"?
Here's how Lisa Bonet really feels about Bill Cosby now.
"It's your life. Just don't blow it."
"I'm glad you didn't hold back."
When you think of on-screen depictions of the rebellious daughter and protective dad,
there's no better duo than Denise and Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show."
Their TV relationship was relatable and aspirational for many families
in the '80s and '90s, but things weren't so rosy once the cameras stopped rolling.
Lisa Bonet and Bill Cosby reportedly have a history of disagreements and power struggles.
First, rumor had it that the actress upset Cosby by appearing in a sex scene in the 1987 film
"Angel Heart." The following year, Bonet got pregnant with her daughter, Zoë Kravitz,
while starring on the "Cosby Show" spinoff, "A Different World." Producers
considered writing Bonet's real-life pregnancy into her fictional role,
but Cosby wasn't having it, saying, according to Showbiz Cheat Sheet,
"Lisa Bonet is pregnant, not Denise."
Ultimately, Bonet was fired from the show.
Years later in 2015, things got even more serious when Cosby was charged
with multiple counts of sexual assault. Shock waves spread throughout Hollywood,
as well as homes where families once enjoyed wholesome episodes of "The Cosby Show."
Everyone from A-list celebrities to fellow sitcom stars shared their thoughts on the
accusations. But Bonet stayed oddly quiet. As her daughter Zoe told The Guardian at the time,
"[My mom would] plead the fifth, even to me.
I think she's just staying out of it. She's just as disgusted and concerned as everyone else is,
but I don't think she has any insight. It's news to her as well."
But by 2018, Bonet was opening up. Referring to Cosby as "Mr. Righteous,"
the actress told Net-A-Porter,
"There was no knowledge on my part about his specific actions, but ... There was just energy.
And that type of sinister, shadow energy cannot be concealed. […] If I had anything more to reveal
then it would have happened a long time ago. That's my nature. The truth will set you free."
But Bonet wasn't the only one who had been suspicious of Cosby.
Zoë, who was born when Bonet was wrapping up her stint on "The Cosby Show,"
sensed bad vibes of her own when looking back on the early interactions she had with the actor.
Referencing a photo taken of her and Cosby on set, she told Rolling Stone,
"It's actually a really disturbing picture. [...] His face is not a
sweet face at all. It's kind of creepy."
Joseph C. Phillips — who played Denise's husband Martin — claimed
in a since-deleted blog post titled "Of Course Bill Cosby Is Guilty,"
that a friend accused Cosby of, quote, "violating both her trust and body."
While Bonet and others in her circle believe Cosby is not to be trusted,
some "Cosby Show" alums disagree. Several former co-stars came forward in defense and support of
the actor as he faced a sexual assault conviction. Phylicia Rashad [fuh-LISH-uh ruh-SHAHD], who
played Cosby's wife, Claire, sounded off on the allegations in 2015, telling Showbiz 411,
"What you're seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it's orchestrated."
"This is not about the women.
This is about something else. This is about the obliteration of legacy."
When the conviction was later overturned, and Cosby was released from prison in 2021,
Rashad celebrated, tweeting:
"A miscarriage of justice is corrected!"
"You're innocent until proven guilty. And this is a man that I've known my
entire life and that was just never my experience with him."
Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Rudy, also expressed her support, noting that the allegations
didn't align with Cosby's character. Still other series stars have avoided taking a firm stance.
Raven-Symoné, who starred as Olivia in later seasons, remained diplomatic, telling People,
"I want everybody who deserves justice to get justice."
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo,
explained that while it was difficult to watch Cosby suffer accusations,
it was also hard to hear the painful stories from the victims. As he noted with Billboard,
"I can't really speak on any of the allegations because obviously, I was not there."
"I am in no position to defend him because I can't. But nor will I throw him under the bus."
Cosby's once golden reputation is unlikely to ever be fully repaired. And when it comes to Bonet,
it's safe to assume she'll continue to keep her distance from the actor.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape,
Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).