In a fresh development in the ongoing sexual misconduct saga surrounding Bill Cosby, actress Joan Tarshis has come forward with allegations of rape against the comedian.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Tarshis claims that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions in the 1970s.
The first alleged incident occurred when Tarshis, then 19 years old, met Cosby through a mutual friend. Cosby invited her to a writing session at his studio for “The Cosby Show.” While alone in Cosby’s bungalow, Tarshis alleges that Cosby gave her a drink, causing her to pass out. Upon regaining consciousness, she found Cosby allegedly undressing her.
Disoriented and unable to resist, Tarshis claims that Cosby overpowered her and forced his reproductive organ into her mouth.
The second incident, according to Tarshis, took place about a year later in New York City. After agreeing to accompany Cosby to a music event, the actress alleges that she lost consciousness after consuming a drink he offered her. When she woke up the next day, she found herself in bed with the comedian.
Quest Times further reports that Tarshis’s complaint against Cosby includes charges of assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment.
These allegations echo similar accusations made by over 60 women against Cosby, dating back to the 1960s. He has consistently denied all accusations of sexual misconduct.
However, in 2017, he was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault and sentenced to three to ten years in prison. The conviction was overturned in 2021 after the court determined that he had been denied due process based on an agreement with a previous prosecutor.
Despite the overturned conviction, the latest allegations from Joan Tarshis add another layer to the complex and disturbing history of sexual misconduct accusations against Bill Cosby.