Bill Cosby is Facing Public Backlash After Suing Women That Accused him of Rape

Bill Cosby and his brand have most certainly been tarnished since fifty or more women have made claims that he allegedly raped them dating back to the 1950's. Cosby has taken a stand and on Monday sued seven out of more than fifty women for defaming his character and derailing an upcoming television opportunity, NBC News reports.

Cosby is taking action against and suing Tamara Green, Therese Seringese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis, and Angela Leslie, the publication reports.

Cosby denies ever sexually assaulting or drugging any of the seven women named in his counter claim. In fact, "the comedian is suing the women for defamation, tortious interference and intentional infliction of emotional distress 'for malicious, opportunistic, false and defamatory accusations of sexual misconduct," NBC News states.

As a result of the alleged claims, Cosby's 2014 announced television resurgence for a new NBC comedy show is now canceled, the news channel reports.

Rolling Out reports, the documents were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

The suit says, "Relying solely on unsubstantiated accusations, Counterclaim Defendants have enraged in a campaign to assassinate Mr. Cosby's reputation and character by willfully, maliciously, and falsely accsuing Mr. Cosby of multi-decade-old purported sexual misconduct. 'Counterclaim Defendants' campaign is nothing more than an opportunistic attempt to extract financial gain from him."

Just what is Cosby seeking in his counter claim?

Monique Pressley, Cosby's lawyer, said in a statement, "the actor is seeking punitive damages and compensation for lost business contracts and damage to his career," according to NBC News.

Why speak out now? Rolling Out reports, it was not until comedian Hannibal Buress made a joke highlighting Cosby's 2014 sexual assault allegations. This gave other women the courage to step up and make their 'voices' heard.

Cosby has not been charged with anything but that did not stop the New York magazine from getting thirty-five of his accusers together to appear on the cover back in July.

 So far, 46 women have come forward to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault, in some cases, according to a recently unsealed deposition, with the aid of quaaludes—a powerful sedative that can render a person functionally immobile. But these allegations are by no means new, with some stretching back decades—to a time when the culture of rape in America left victims little recourse but to suffer silently, and in shame. Today, the way we think and talk about rape has evolved, creating a safer space for survivors to feel empowered by speaking up and reclaiming their victimhood. And that’s led us here. Of the 46 women who have come forward to accuse Cosby, we spoke to 35 of them — “a sorrowful sisterhood” of women united by their dark experiences, steadfast in their resolve to remain silent no more. Read more: nymag.com/cosby-women. Amanda Demme

A photo posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on Jul 26, 2015 at 6:05pm PDT

For a man who has not been convicted and put on trial, the media is definitely playing their hand in helping him appear guilty until proven innocent.

Janice Dickinson, 60, a model, was allegedly assaulted by Bill Cosby in 1982. Cosby invited then-28-year-old Dickinson to Lake Tahoe, saying he had a possible acting opportunity for her. They dined together, and he gave her a pill to take with a glass of wine. "I woke up the next morning, after the incident, with my entire life altered forever, knowing that Bill Cosby had raped me. There was no one there to protect me. I held this inside of my soul for years and years and years. It shouldn't happen to any person, man, woman, or child. The right thing to do is to tell my story, truthfully, the disgusting and humiliating details, blow by blow, that I can share and hopefully stop this man from ever, ever, ever doing it again." Tap the photo to hear Janice Dickinson tell her story, and watch her video interview at nymag.com/cosby-women. Amanda Demme of @janicedickinson A video posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on Jul 27, 2015 at 9:30am PDT