Bill Cosby’s Letterman Appearance Axed After Rape Allegations

Bill Cosby’s appearance on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman,” scheduled for Wednesday, has been cancelled amid outrage over allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman decades ago. The show reportedly declined to reveal whether Cosby backed out of his appearance or the show had planned on a replacement, The New York Times reported Friday.

Cosby’s representative also reportedly did not confirm the reason behind the cancellation. On Oct. 30, Cosby had reportedly cancelled his appearance on “The Queen Latifah Show,” organizers said. But the 77-year-old star did appear on Comedy Central on Sept. 24 and on NBC’s “Tonight” show on Aug. 18, The Times reported.

Nearly 13 women have reportedly come forward accusing the comedian of sexual abuse. The latest alleged victim, Barbara Bowman, revealed in a Washington Post column Thursday that Cosby drugged and raped her when she was a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985.

“Why didn't I get the same reaction of shock and revulsion when I originally reported it?" Bowman reportedly wrote. “Why was I, a victim of sexual assault, further wronged by victim blaming when I came forward? The women victimized by Bill Cosby have been talking about his crimes for more than a decade. Why didn't our stories go viral?"

In 2006, Andrea Constand, who had filed a civil suit against Cosby, settled for an undisclosed amount.

Earlier this week, Cosby’s Twitter account asked his followers to use his photo to make memes. The idea backfired after Internet users utilized Cosby's meme generator to create images with messages about his rape allegations.