Bill Cosby said on Tuesday he has no plans to hold town hall events to discuss sexual assault, days after his spokesman suggested the comedian planned a series of public talks to educate men about how to avoid false accusations.
Cosby's spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, first put forward the idea for the town hall talks in an interview with a Birmingham, Alabama, TV station last week, five days after Cosby's sex assault trial ended in a hung jury.
The proposal drew immediate criticism from a lawyer representing some of the dozens of women who have levelled sex assault accusations at the 79-year-old entertainer, whose long career was built on a family-friendly style of comedy.
"The current propaganda that I am going to conduct a sexual assault tour is false," Cosby said in a statement released by Wyatt on Tuesday. "Any further information about public plans will be given at the appropriate time."
Wyatt said in the Wednesday TV interview and a Thursday e-mailed statement that Cosby, once known as "America's dad" for his starring role in the 1980s TV hit "The Cosby Show," planned to give free public appearances to address the dangers that young men face.
Wyatt did not respond to inquiries about the change in plans.
After a Los Angeles court hearing related to a civil lawsuit by a woman who has accused the comedian of sexual assault, Cosby attorney Angela Agrusa told reporters there was a "lot of miscommunication" about planned public appearances.
Cosby, she said, wants to perform again but is unlikely to do so until all criminal charges are resolved, adding, "He doesn't take lightly the charges against him."
Prosecutors in Pennsylvania plan to retry Cosby on charges that he sexually assaulted Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia-area home in 2004.
Some 60 women have accused him of sex assault in a string of alleged incidents dating back to the 1960s. The Pennsylvania case is the only criminal prosecution to result.
Ten women are pursuing either sexual abuse or defamation lawsuits against Cosby.
Two cases are headed for back-to-back trials in California next summer. A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday set July 30, 2018, as the trial date for a lawsuit brought by Judy Huth, who says Cosby gave her alcohol and then sexually abused her at the Playboy mansion around 1974 when she was 15.
Another lawsuit, filed by former model Chloe Goins, is scheduled for trial in June 2018.
Reuters
Wed Jun 28 2017
![Actor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives for the third day of his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 7, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Files Actor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives for the third day of his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 7, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Files](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-06/51498615471_ActorandcomedianB.jpg)
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives for the third day of his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 7, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Files
![China promises Latin America 'trustworthy' ties as Trump lays out demands China promises Latin America 'trustworthy' ties as Trump lays out demands](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/41691592123_WangYi.jpg)
China promises Latin America 'trustworthy' ties as Trump lays out demands
Beijing looks to improve its foothold in a region historically under the US sphere of influence.
![Major risks loom as Trump upends US Russia policy Major risks loom as Trump upends US Russia policy](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81739935395_tbVladimirPutinDon.jpg)
Major risks loom as Trump upends US Russia policy
Washington's approach changes dramatically with the initial meeting between US and Russian negotiators.
![Pope Francis has double pneumonia, complicating his treatment, Vatican says Pope Francis has double pneumonia, complicating his treatment, Vatican says](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/71739950345_PopeFrancis.jpg)
Pope Francis has double pneumonia, complicating his treatment, Vatican says
Doctors say a polymicrobial infection occurs when two or more micro-organisms are involved and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
![Philippines' VP Duterte challenges impeachment before Supreme Court Philippines' VP Duterte challenges impeachment before Supreme Court](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81738903885_TBSaraDuterte.jpg)
Philippines' VP Duterte challenges impeachment before Supreme Court
Sara Duterte makes her first legal move to fight the case that could lead to her removal and lead to a lifetime ban from public office.
![Motor racing - Hamilton steps out in red at unprecedented 10 team F1 launch Motor racing - Hamilton steps out in red at unprecedented 10 team F1 launch](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-12/41733723992_LewisHamilton.jpg)
Motor racing - Hamilton steps out in red at unprecedented 10 team F1 launch
I feel so full of life, so much energy, because everything's new and I'm just focused on what is up ahead, Hamilton says.
![UAE tells US' Rubio it rejects displacement of Palestinians UAE tells US' Rubio it rejects displacement of Palestinians](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/51739962942_SheikhMohamedbinZ.jpg)
UAE tells US' Rubio it rejects displacement of Palestinians
The UAE's stance matters as its one of four Arab nations that normalised ties with Israel during Trumps first term.
![Taylor Swift wins recording artist of the year crown for fifth time Taylor Swift wins recording artist of the year crown for fifth time](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/51739940935_TBTaylorSwift.jpg)
Taylor Swift wins recording artist of the year crown for fifth time
The megastar's "The Tortured Poets Department" record also topped four IFPI charts, the IFPI says.
![More than $50 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, World Bank joint assessment says More than $50 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, World Bank joint assessment says](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-01/71737096454_palestinegazaisr.jpg)
More than $50 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, World Bank joint assessment says
Years of rebuilding work, including clearing unexploded ordinance and millions of tonnes of rubble lie ahead.
![Malaysia’s AI data centre development to be impacted by recent US restrictions - Liew Malaysia’s AI data centre development to be impacted by recent US restrictions - Liew](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81739939398_TBLiewChinTong.jpg)
Malaysia’s AI data centre development to be impacted by recent US restrictions - Liew
Liew Chin Tong says the restrictions would not affect the development of the domestic data centre ecosystem as a whole.
![Sweden's top court rejects Greta Thunberg lawsuit on climate action Sweden's top court rejects Greta Thunberg lawsuit on climate action](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81739955532_GretaThunberg.jpg)
Sweden's top court rejects Greta Thunberg lawsuit on climate action
A court cannot decide that the parliament or the government must take any specific action, the Supreme Court says.
![[COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream [COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-10/51728873693_EMIR.jpg)
[COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream
The Gaza plan is dangerous and counter-productive as it's merely another recipe for regional instability.
![Sivasangari eyes new career-high in world rankings Sivasangari eyes new career-high in world rankings](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81739946217_SivasangariSubraman.jpg)
Sivasangari eyes new career-high in world rankings
After climbing to a career-best world number seven, national women's squash ace S. Sivasangari is determined to keep rising.
![Outburst against Steven Sim: DAP will probe if there's a complaint - Loke Outburst against Steven Sim: DAP will probe if there's a complaint - Loke](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-01/81736761438_TBANTHONYLOKE.jpg)
Outburst against Steven Sim: DAP will probe if there's a complaint - Loke
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke says the disciplinary committee has not received any reports related to the incident so far.
![US judge will not block Elon Musk from firing federal workers, accessing data US judge will not block Elon Musk from firing federal workers, accessing data](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-01/51737453660_tbElonMusk.jpg)
US judge will not block Elon Musk from firing federal workers, accessing data
The case raises questions about Musk's apparent unchecked authority as a top deputy to President Donald Trump.
![Dozens of false killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach Dozens of false killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/61739935984_tbWhalesArthurRiv.jpg)
Dozens of false killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach
Rescue crews trying to save the majority of the large dolphins that survived the ordeal, according to authorities.
![Trump restricts AP access over Gulf of Mexico issue Trump restricts AP access over Gulf of Mexico issue](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/61739249021_AirForceOne.jpg)
Trump restricts AP access over Gulf of Mexico issue
The AP, citing editorial standards, says it would continue to use the gulf's established name.
![China to fly back 200 nationals rescued from Myanmar scam centres, Thai official says China to fly back 200 nationals rescued from Myanmar scam centres, Thai official says](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/71738880696_TBShweKokkocity.jpg)
China to fly back 200 nationals rescued from Myanmar scam centres, Thai official says
This is part of a multinational effort to crack down on illegal online operations run from the region.
![Somber Tiger Woods back in action in TGL loss to New York GC Somber Tiger Woods back in action in TGL loss to New York GC](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/41739933264_TBTigerWoods.jpg)
Somber Tiger Woods back in action in TGL loss to New York GC
Tiger Woods makes his first start since the death of his mother when he competed in a TGL match at Palm Beach Gardens.
![Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81739932787_Brazil.jpg)
Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot
A total of 34 people were charged, including several military officials.
![Trump and Musk target tax enforcers, rocket scientists, bank regulators for job cuts Trump and Musk target tax enforcers, rocket scientists, bank regulators for job cuts](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-11/81732680289_ElonMusk.jpg)
Trump and Musk target tax enforcers, rocket scientists, bank regulators for job cuts
Concerns grow over transparency, oversight, and Musk's influence on government operations.