For a while, it seemed acclaimed actor and comedian Bill Cosby's career would be severely damaged-and very likely finished-by allegations of numerous sexual assaults he allegedly committed over the years.
Some of the allegations date from the 1960s.
And, of course, it looked like there would be financial consequences as well. With nearly 60 women claiming to have been victimized by Cosby, he faces a number of lawsuits. But this week the stakes went up. On Tuesday, a judge in Pennsylvania found sufficient evidence to put Cosby on trial on three counts of felony indecent assault dating from 2004.
The alleged victim worked for Cosby's alma mater, Temple University. She says he invited her to his home and then drugged and sexually assaulted her. If convicted, Cosby could get 10 years in prison. He's 78 now. So it might mean life or nearly so.
What a fall.
It was just a few years ago that Cosby was one of the most beloved entertainers in America, with his long career in film, TV and as a stand-up comic, his squeaky-clean image and his role as the ultimate father figure on "The Cosby Show," as well as his outspoken stands on morality and positive behavior.
And now this. It should be noted Cosby has not been found guilty of anything. Although he settled one lawsuit out of court back in 2005-the plaintiff was the same woman he is now charged with criminally assaulting-he insisted the sex was consensual in depositions. Any allegations of illegal conduct or force are just that-allegations.
But there are a lot of them. And no matter what happens in court, his legacy will always bear a stain.
So what's the lesson here?
In this day of wide access to online information, multiple competing media sources, the possibility of instant notoriety and the potential for profit from selling the story, almost nothing stays secret. Almost nothing stays hidden. Some would say that's good. That the rich, famous and powerful are more likely to have to answer for misdeeds than before. And in some ways they are right. Victims who could not hope for justice now may eventually get it.
That's the good part.
But it also allows for innocent people to be smeared by innuendo and exaggeration-or even false allegations. It puts a potential target on the back of public figures. And with the widespread online mob mentality these days, any accusation is as good as a conviction.
The charges against Bill Cosby-both criminal and civil-will be decided by the court system. But no matter the outcome, his name will never be cleared. No one's name is ever cleared these days. That's the new reality.