A former employee of NBC named Frank Scotti has come forward to claim that he once acted as Bill Cosby's right-hand man and assistant. His job duties allegedly included bringing young women to the comedian's dressing room, guarding the door after he brought them, and sending money — sometimes thousands of dollars — to many different women over the years.
In an interview with Today, Scotti told Kate Snow that, "I felt like a pimp. Every time he had somebody I had to watch, I had the girl stay there. I felt dirty...I just felt, you know, he's not the person I thought he was." Scotti also claims to have saved copies of money orders he sent to women as payouts.
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Bill Cosby's attorney, meanwhile, told NBC News that Scotti's story "is pure speculation so that he can get his 15 minutes of fame."
Although the comedian has never been formally charged for his alleged actions, 18 women have now come forward to accuse him of sexual assault or attempted assault. Cosby still appeared at a stand-up show in Florida this weekend, but in order to do so, he had to break his silence and respond to the mounting number of rape and assault claims.
"I know people are tired of me not saying anything, but a guy doesn't have to answer to innuendos. People should fact check. People shouldn't have to go through that and shouldn't answer to innuendos," Cosby told Florida TODAY.
Despite the fact that Cosby received two standing ovations at his performance this weekend, he has already canceled or postponed seven shows that were scheduled for the coming weeks. (Today)