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African American Museum Refuses To Take Down Cosby Exhibit

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The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art is standing by Bill Cosby and will not remove an exhibit featuring artwork from the disgraced comedian’s private collection.

Nearly one-third of the exhibit, “Conversations: African and African-American Artworks in Dialogue,” comes from Cosby’s private art collection and The Associated Press reports the Cosbys paid for the exhibit with a $716,000 gift.

In a statement released last week, the museum said it is aware of Cosby’s alleged sexual misconduct and it in no way condones his behavior, but the exhibit is “fundamentally about the artworks and the artists,” not the Cosbys.

“The artworks from the Cosbys’ collection are being seen by the public for the first time,” the statement reads. “The exhibition brings the public’s attention to African American artists whose works have long been omitted from the study and appreciation of American art.”

Over 30 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault, but he has yet to be charged with a crime.

Documents released last week show that in 2005 Cosby admitted to lawyers he obtained sedative drugs so he could give them to women before he had sex with them.

Cosby said he got seven Quaalude prescriptions in the 1970s to give to women he intended on having sex with.

While the Smithsonian appears to be sticking by Cosby after revelations about his affinity for Quaaludes hit the news wires, others were quick to distance themselves from the former TV star.

All in one week, Disney Studios removed a statue of Cosby from its theme park in Hollywood, his talent agency dropped him and two separate TV networks stopped airing reruns of “The Cosby Show” after news broke of the Quaaludes incident.

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