What's Next For Bill Cosby? Comedian Blames Racism Ahead Of Sexual Assault Trial

Bill Cosby agreed with his daughter Ensa Cosby’s recent assertion that racism played a major role in the sexual assault case filed against him. The 79-year-old is scheduled to go to trial June 5 on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his Pennsylvania mansion in January 2004. Over 50 other women have made similar allegations against him in the past two years.

Cosby, however, has pleaded not guilty and denied all claims. The jury selection for the upcoming trial of his case is set to begin in Pittsburgh on May 22.

In his first public interview in over two years, Cosby blamed racism and also slammed the accusers for “piling on” charges against him in order to draw public attention.

“Could be, could be,” Cosby said about racism being a factor in the case while speaking to SiriusXM (U.S. broadcasting company) host Michael Smerconish for a segment which is set to air Tuesday. “I can’t say anything, but there are certain things that I look at and I apply to the situation and there are so many tentacles. So many different — nefarious is a great word. And I just truly believe that some of it may very well be that.”

Read: Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Pretrial Begins With Shouting Match, Inappropriate Jokes

When Smerconish pointed out that Cosby’s accusers are both black and white, the comedian replied, “Let me put it to you this way: When you look at the power structure and when you look at individuals, there are some people who can very well be motivated by whether or not they’re going to work. Or whether or not they might be able to get back at someone. So if it’s in terms of whatever the choice is, I think that you can also examine individuals and situations and they will come out differently. So it’s not all, not every, but I do think that there’s some.”

In a Twitter post Monday, Cosby expressed his love for his family and seemingly urged his slain son Ennis, who died in January 1997 after he was fatally shot during an attempted carjacking, to “keep fighting.”

Expressing support for her father, Ensa said in an audio statement Monday on popular radio show, The Breakfast Club, "I strongly believe my father is innocent of the crimes alleged against him and I believe that racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal.

“How my father is being punished by a society that still believes black men rape white women; but pass off 'boys will be boys' when white men are accused and how the politics of our country prove my disgust. My father has been publicly lynched in the media,” she further added.

In April, Cosby’s youngest daughter, Evin, defended her father in an online essay, stating that he “loves and respects women. She further wrote: “He is not abusive, violent or a rapist. Sure, like many celebrities tempted by opportunity, he had his affairs, but that was between him and my mother. They have worked through it and moved on, and I am glad they did for them and for our family.”