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Roseanne Barr says she has hope for 'great comic' Bill Cosby

By Karen Butler
Roseanne Barr in a 2011 UPI file photo.
1 of 2 | Roseanne Barr in a 2011 UPI file photo. | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Roseanne Barr says she isn't surprised Bill Cosby is at the center of a media firestorm right now because she had heard rumors for years about his alleged sexual abuse of women.

In the last few months, more than two dozen women have accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting them. The 77-year-old comedian has vehemently denied the allegations and has never been charged with a crime in connection with them.

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The accusations were brought to light last year when comedian Hannibal Buress mentioned them in his standup act. Since then, Cosby has been widely criticized on social media, while numerous other alleged victims have come forward to tell their stories.

"Like every woman in Hollywood -- there's hardly any hairdressers or waitresses or working women who don't know somebody," Barr said in an interview with Access Hollywood. "We've all heard it for a long time, and it surprises nobody."

Barr was then asked why she thinks women are speaking up now if the alleged incidents happened decades ago.

"Well, 'cause nobody gives a damn... until a man says it. But once Hannibal Buress said it..." Barr said.

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"Maybe it's not the end of it. ... I have hopes for this great comic. I do. I have hopes that he would just make it clean, and make it, you know, make it right, and I do think he could do that."

Pressed for an opinion about whether Cosby's legacy is permanently damaged, Barr replied: "I think it's damaged, but, I mean, there's none of us alive who can't go: 'I made a mistake. I had a really bad problem and I'm fessing up to it. And here's a scholarship.' ... You know, there's a million ways around it to go. But there's nothing more powerful than, 'I am sorry.'"

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