Topless Bill Cosby Protestor Was An Actress On ‘The Cosby Show’
Nicolle Rochelle has been identified as the topless protestor at Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial this past Monday (Apr. 9). Rochelle is a former actress who reportedly appeared in five episodes of the disgraced comedian’s popular television show, The Cosby Show, when she was 12 years old. She appeared as one of Rudy’s friends.
The N.J. native was reportedly charged with disorderly conduct, after jumping over a barricade and getting very close to the 80-year-old. The top half of her body was painted with the words “Women’s Lives Matter,” the names of the accusers, and “Cosby Rapis [sic].” Rochelle is a member of the group Femen, an international feminist protest group. Their name was also painted on her body.
In a phone interview, Rochelle said that her motive was to make Cosby “uncomfortable…because that is exactly what he has been doing for decades to women…I wanted to show him that I was not disempowered.” She also said she is “hoping victims would feel some sort of connection with [her]. [She] wanted to express the anger that they maybe can’t express.”
Rochelle was ordered to stay away from the Philadelphia courthouse where the retrial is being held.
“Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt commended the deputies for intercepting Rochelle and told the AP, “You never know who’s going to want to make a name for themselves,” wrote The Washington Post.
Here is protester Nicolle Rochelle who was arrested today for her topless protest as Cosby walked into court. She used to appear on Cosby show, and she stands here in front of a building featured in show. #CosbyTrial pic.twitter.com/DLfNezSDT5
— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) April 9, 2018
In an interview over speakerphone from her Norristown hotel, topless protester Nicolle Rochelle said her goal was to “make Cosby uncomfortable, because that is exactly what he has been doing for decades to women … I wanted to show him that I was not disempowered.”
— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) April 9, 2018
Rochelle said she expects to be fined over the disorderly conduct summary offense, and local authorities told her to stay away from the courthouse for the duration of the #CosbyTrial, which she says she is going to abide by.
— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) April 9, 2018
Rochelle, who was on the Cosby Show five times when she was 12, but says she never had a bad experience with Cosby, said she was “hoping victims would feel some sort of connection with me. I wanted to express the anger that they maybe can’t express.” #CosbyTrial
— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) April 9, 2018
