Phylicia Rashad who is the new dean of the Howard University College of Fine Arts, is reported to have sent an apology letter to students and parents for her previous gleeful tweet about Bill Cosby’s surprise release from prison, Deadline reports.
According to the report, Phylicia Rashad sent the letter Friday, offering her “most sincere apology” for her enthusiasm upon learning that Cosby’s rape conviction was overturned. She co-starred with him on The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992, playing Cosby’s wife, Clair Huxtable.
“I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth,” she wrote. “Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing.”
“My remarks were in no way directed towards survivors of sexual assault. I vehemently oppose sexual violence, find no excuse for such behavior, and I know that Howard University has a zero-tolerance policy toward interpersonal violence,” Rashad wrote.
On Wednesday, the day Cosby was released, Rashad tweeted, “FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!”, along with a photo of Cosby. She has since removed the tweet.
Phylicia Rashad said in her letter that she plans “to engage in active listening and participate in trainings to not only reinforce University protocol and conduct, but also to learn how I can become a stronger ally to sexual assault survivors and everyone who has suffered at the hands of an abuser.”