The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned comedian Dr. Bill Cosby’s 2018 prison sentence Wednesday—citing a violation of his due process rights.
Cosby was serving a three-to-10-year sentence for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, who was one of more than 60 women to accuse the 83-year-old actor of rape and sexual assault spanning five decades.
Shortly after the court’s decision was announced, actress Phylicia Rashad, the newly-appointed dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts took to Twitter to express her support.
“FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!”
The tweet caused an immediate backlash online, with a number of students, alumni and administrators at the historically Black university criticizing the comment and calling for her immediate ouster.
In response, one woman tweeted: “you’ll likely encounter students who were sexually assaulted, drugged, or both and this is what you choose to tweet? Congrats on further creating an atmosphere where victims would be afraid to speak out!”
Added Alicia Sanchez: “As a Howard University School of Fine Arts alum, and as a survivor, this tweet from Phylicia Rashad is disappointing,” Sanchez tweeted. “I hope we can have a dean who believes & respects survivors. Howard’s students who are survivors, I believe you.”
