Bill Cosby was found guilty Thursday on charges he drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, and many in Hollywood immediately celebrated the news on social media.
The verdict came, after the jury’s 13 hours of deliberation, less than a year after a previous panel was unable to reach consensus on the charges.
The accusations against Cosby, from dozens of women who say the comedian drugged and assaulted them, started long before the dawn of the #MeToo revolution. But many in Hollywood credit the movement with opening people’s eyes to the reality of improper behavior and abuse of power.
As reactions to the verdict continue to pour in, here are a few thoughts from celebrities.
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Y’ALL 👀👀👀👀👀 https://t.co/MlQNkDqXjK
— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) April 26, 2018
Cosby is guilty. I’m sorry if you loved a lie. His victims can now exhale. Thank you judge and jury. Thank you society for waking up.
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) April 26, 2018
The state of America is this- Even with dozens of accusers we were all afraid Bill Cosby would walk.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) April 26, 2018
I wonder how long it’s going to take Trump to announce he’s going to pardon Bill Cosby.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) April 26, 2018
In our culture women are speaking out more & more, but the Cosby trial reminds us that male advocacy is still vital. @hannibalburess spoke truth to the disgrace of Cosby’s behavior & that perspective mattered.
— Ana Gasteyer (@AnaGasteyer) April 26, 2018
I can’t stop thinking about all the old farts in Hollywood that knew. They knew the whole time. The networks, the producers, the studios. Time’s not up yet. https://t.co/KS3ocB4G8L
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) April 26, 2018
I first heard this bit when I was 9 years old and even then I knew it was dirtier than Anything I had heard On a Carlin, Pryor or even a Lenny Bruce record. Hated it. Still do
— Hal Sparks (@HalSparks) April 26, 2018
- Bill Cosby Jokes About Drugging Girls with "Spanish Fly" In 1969 Comedy ... https://t.co/2Zu1JiZH7H
The #MeToo movement is vital, crushingly sad and inspiring. Cosby verdict is HUGE. I also wanna know how it’s going for humans abused by the NON-famous? As a person abused by only non-famous I can’t see much change. Can we all talk about this? I’m sure I’ve missed things too..
— Neko Case (@NekoCase) April 26, 2018
One of the hard parts about supporting #MeToo movement, is being consistent even when the perpetrators are people we like or admired or who made us laugh for decades. Zero Tolerance, means Zero Tolerance. Even when it is Dr. Huckstable. https://t.co/oP1yTvESCv
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) April 26, 2018
In a fitting end to Sexual Assault Awareness month, Bill Cosby was found guilty today. Thinking of all the women he traumatized over the past 50 years. As a survivor myself, I know that pain never fully goes away. But I hope that his victims finally feel some semblance of peace.
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) April 26, 2018
Finally some justice for Bill Cosby’s victims. May they find a little #peace today. #GUILTY
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) April 26, 2018
How about - in the future, in cases like Bill Cosby or Weinstein, these women don't have to devote 15 to 20 years of their lives, fighting to get justice, while being degraded the entire time?
— John Lurie (@lurie_john) April 26, 2018
Good riddance to Bill Cosby!
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) April 26, 2018
Good. Die in prison, you unapologetic rapist. https://t.co/rM5GUYJqAO
— Wil 'this account mocks fascists' Wheaton (@wilw) April 26, 2018
More importantly, I haven't forgotten about the many women you assaulted and silenced with your power. Good riddance!!! https://t.co/PY4Dl0t1YS
— Larry Wilmore (@larrywilmore) April 26, 2018
Bill Cosby going down epic. Finally a conviction. Finally justice.
— Tina Brown (@TinaBrownLM) April 26, 2018
Bill Cosby Found Guilty of Sexual Assault After Years of Accusations https://t.co/TKRBKN5Frb Hallelujah. It's about damn time. #FinallyHimToo And I hope Stormy wins and all the other women break those NDA's so all of these bastards fall down.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 26, 2018
The Cosby conviction is a resonant reminder that power and influence come with significant responsibility, and must never, ever be abused in an evolved society. Hopefully this is only the first step forward.
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) April 26, 2018
Thank you to the survivors. I know reliving these nightmares is debilitating. But you’ve made the world a little easier for future generations in holding this monster accountable. And as a mother, I appreciate that so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. #MeToo https://t.co/HegPehNgcQ
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 26, 2018
I took down the picture of Bill Cosby because I didn’t want to see his face on my timeline.
— Andie MacDowell (@AndieMacDowell3) April 26, 2018
It’s a bad week to be an old man who terrorized women for decades! But not as bad a week as it is to be a woman literally all of the other weeks! #GoldenStateKiller #BillCosby
— Allison Tolman (@Allison_Tolman) April 26, 2018
guilty #guilty pic.twitter.com/fMOwZOPa5u
— ROSIE (@Rosie) April 26, 2018
Cosby. Guilty! On all charges!
— Jenny McC-Wahlberg (@JennyMcCarthy) April 26, 2018
Time’s up, Bill. Time’s BEEN up for you, for years. And now justice. Justice for women I know who you’ve hurt and those I’ve never met. Good riddance. https://t.co/aJ0YaVhwyA
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) April 26, 2018
ACCOUNTABILITY.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) April 26, 2018
This is the only way things will change. https://t.co/BzCBX0Zdh7
Unbelievably amazing news!!!!! https://t.co/Z6yEcLT9fC
— Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) April 26, 2018
Just because you're rich and powerful doesn't mean another person’s body is automatically available for sex. Consent must be given.#BillCosby
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) April 26, 2018
Wishing Bill Cosby a long life!
— (((Joshua Malina))) (@JoshMalina) April 26, 2018
I hope Eddie Murphy reaches out and scolds him for using "blue" words in his set. https://t.co/VvwI2AkEet
— dax shepard (@daxshepard) April 26, 2018
One of the things I learned from interviewing the creator of behavioral economics, Daniel Kahneman, is that people judge their overall experiences by the way in which they end. Bill Cosby is 80. He's had a long life filled with fame and riches, but it may end in jail. Good.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) April 26, 2018
UPDATES:
3 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reactions to the Cosby verdict.
This article was originally published at 12:25 p.m.
