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Tag: Malcolm-Jamal Warner

  • “Ebony” Magazine’s Controversial “Cosby Show” Cover Elicits Criticism and Praise

    Ebony magazine’s November issue comes with a rather controversial cover. The Cosby Show cast members appear on it, as though under glass in a frame photo. That glass is broken, smashed hard over the face of Bill Cosby.

    Ebony received many comments regarding the Cosby cover on its Facebook page.

    Posted by Ebony on Thursday, October 15, 2015

    “wow —how quickly everyone is jumping on the ‘bash Bill Cosby” bandwagon… none of these allegations have been proven — I expect this from white people, but from Ebony?— wow,” one commenter weighed in.

    “Kudos to everyone at Ebony for having the courage to take a bold, powerful stand!” another wrote.

    Comments were Tweeted, too.

    Malcolm Jamal Warner played Theo Huxtable–the son of Bill Cosby’s character, Dr. Cliff Hustable on The Cosby Show. Raven-Symone played Cliff’s granddaughter Olivia. Both actors weighed in on the Ebony Cosby cover Friday on The View.

    “We really don’t have enough time on this show to really talk about how I feel about that,” Warner said.

    “Let’s not forget that The Cosby Show was a sitcom and not a reality show,” Raven-Symoné added. “Let’s just remember that this was a sitcom and we had writers and things of that nature.”

    “That’s the show that we’re all very proud to have been on,” Warner said.

    Earlier in October, Malcolm Jamal Warner talked of how The Cosby Show set a great example, and that recent allegations against Bill Cosby had tarnished its reputation.

    “When we’ve had images that perpetuate the negative stereotype of people of color, we’ve always had The Cosby Show to hold up against that,” he said. “And the fact that we no longer have that, kinda leaves us not in a great place in terms of having the wide scope of the images of people of color.”

    Keshia Knight Pulliam played Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show. She said “based upon the people that continuously approach me and talk about how it’s profoundly impacted their lives, I don’t feel you can take that back.”

    “The generation of people of color who have chosen to go to college because they watched that show…you can’t take that away,” Warner also said on The View.

    Did Ebony magazine cross a line? In taking aim at Bill Cosby did they also tarnish something many families–not just families of color, either–had held dear for decades?

    It would certainly be interesting to learn if more people who viewed this Ebony Cosby cover believe the magazine is right or wrong in featuring the cast members of The Cosby Show collectively in such a negative light.

    What’s your take?

  • Malcolm Jamal Warner: Bill Cosby Rape Allegation Ruined Cosby Show Legacy

    Malcolm-Jamal Warner says that Bill Cosby’s actions have tarnished one of America’s most-beloved sitcoms, The Cosby Show.

    Warner, who played son Theo Huxtable on the long-running show, thinks that it’s bad for “images of people of color on TV and film” to have a stereotype-killing show like The Cosby Show ruined by the dozens upon dozens of rape allegations leveled against its star, Bill Cosby.

    “My biggest concern is when it comes to images of people of color on television and film, no matter what … negative stereotypes of people of color, we’ve always had The Cosby Show to hold up against that. And the fact that we no longer have that, that’s the thing that saddens me the most because in a few generations the Huxtables will have been just a fairy tale,” he told the NY Post.

    Malcolm Jamal Warner has spoken to Cosby since the stuff started hitting the fan, he said.

    “I think the things that we discussed really have to stay private between us. But it’s just a bad situation all around — for him, for his family, the women, their families, the legacy of the show,” said Warner.

    Another star of the show has a different opinion, however.

    Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played youngest daughter Rudy Huxtable, think Cosby’s rape allegations can’t take away what many felt for the show.

    “You can’t take back the impact that it’s had on generations of kids, and it’s continuing to have such a positive impact on them,” the actress said. “So I feel like the place that it has in people’s hearts is such a nostalgic part of childhood and beyond, it’s going to be difficult to take back those memories.”

    The number of women accusing Cosby of sexual assault has topped 50. The comic is testifying on Friday in the latest lawsuit to stem from the allegations.

  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner Talks Bill Cosby Allegations

    Malcolm-Jamal Warner has broken his silence, speaking out for the first time about allegations that his former Cosby Show costar and mentor was involved in sexual assaults. Jamal-Warner spoke exclusively with Billboard to share his feelings on the matter.

    “He’s one of my mentors, and he’s been very influential and played a big role in my life as a friend and mentor,” Malcolm Jamal-Warner, who played the role of eldest child Theo Huxtable on the hit TV show . “Just as it’s painful to hear any woman talk about sexual assault, whether true or not, it’s just as painful to watch my friend and mentor go through this.”

    “I can’t really speak on any of the allegations because obviously, I was not there. The Bill Cosby I know has been great to me and great for a lot of people. What he’s done for comedy and television has been legendary and history-making. What he’s done for the black community and education has been invaluable. That’s the Bill Cosby I know. I can’t speak on the other stuff,” he added.

    Bill Cosby hasn’t been charged with any crimes, and he has denied any and all sexual assault allegations. The allegations also include incidents of Cosby having drugged his victims.

    Back in September, Malcom Jamal-Warner said during an interview with CBS that Bill Cosby played a huge role in his upbringing.

    “I think one of the greatest advantages we had on the show growing up was being exposed to Mr. Cosby–being exposed to his work ethic, being exposed to how he handles the job of celebrity and living in the public eye…I think that all had a real significant impact,” he said.

    Is there anything to be said for former costars like Malcom Jamal-Warner breaking their silence and in essence defending Bill Cosby? In recent weeks costars including Phylicia Rashad have indicated that they more or less believe him to be innocent of any wrongdoing.

    What some might be wondering, however, is why–if people like Malcolm Jamal-Warner are so certain of Bill Cosby’s innocence, didn’t they come forward before now?

  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner Splits With Regina King

    Celebrity break-up rumors are a dime a dozen, and a dime is more than they are usually worth. Just last week country music power couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert joked about rumors that their marriage was falling apart.

    This week’s celebrity break-up story involves Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Regina King. US magazine is reporting that Warner and King have split up after two years of dating. The publication’s unnamed source stated that Warner “wasn’t feeling it anymore.”

    Warner has not responded to the rumors, but King was quick to challenge parts of the story via her Twitter feed. Though she seems to acknowledge the break-up, she takes issue with US reporting that “it wasn’t the most amicable of partings,” saying “Me & @MalcolmJamalWar are good.”

    Warner rose to fame in the 80s and 90s as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. He now stars as Dr. Alex Reed in the BET show Reed Between the Lines and has a recurring role in the NBC TV show Community. King, best known for her roles in the TV show 227 and the movie Jerry Maguire, now stars in the TNT cop show Southland.