Cosby’s wife Camille breaks silence to defend husband

NEW YORK – Bill Cosby‘s wife says the embattled comedian is in fact the man his fans have always loved.

In a statement released Monday, Camille Cosby dismisses accusations from more than 15 women that they were drugged and raped by her husband as long ago as the late 1960s. She says these accusers aren’t being properly vetted by the media before their accounts are published or aired. The man they are accusing is “a man I do not know,” she says.

She suggests that her husband, not the women, is the actual victim.

The statement, released by Cosby spokesman David Brokaw, is the first public comment from Cosby’s long-time wife since a wave of allegations began swirling several weeks ago.

READ MORE: Accusations and recollections: Sex assault a hot topic in 2014

She calls her husband “a kind man” and “a generous man.”

Below is the complete from Camille Cosby on the accusations of sexual assault against her husband:

I met my husband, Bill Cosby, in 1963, and we were married in 1964. The man I met, and fell in love with, and whom I continue to love, is the man you all knew through his work. He is a kind man, a generous man, a funny man, and a wonderful husband, father and friend. He is the man you thought you knew.

A different man has been portrayed in the media over the last two months. It is the portrait of a man I do not know. It is also a portrait painted by individuals and organizations whom many in the media have given a pass. There appears to be no vetting of my husband’s accusers before stories are published or aired. An accusation is published, and immediately goes viral.

We all followed the story of the article in the “Rolling Stone” concerning allegations of rape at the University of Virginia. The story was heart-breaking, but ultimately appears to be proved to be untrue. Many in the media were quick to link that story to stories about my husband – until that story unwound.

None of us will ever want to be in the position of attacking a victim. But the question should be asked – who is the victim?

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: I met my husband, Bill Cosby, in 1963, and we were married in 1964. The man I met, and fell in love with, and whom I continue to love, is the man you all knew through his work. He is a kind man, a generous man, a funny man, and a wonderful husband, father and friend. He is the man you thought you knew.</p><p class="ap-story-p">A different man has been portrayed in the media over the last two months. It is the portrait of a man I do not know. It is also a portrait painted by individuals and organizations whom many in the media have given a pass. There appears to be no vetting of my husband's accusers before stories are published or aired. An accusation is published, and immediately goes viral.</p><p class="ap-story-p">We all followed the story of the article in the "Rolling Stone" concerning allegations of rape at the University of Virginia. The story was heart-breaking, but ultimately appears to be proved to be untrue. Many in the media were quick to link that story to stories about my husband - until that story unwound.</p><p class="ap-story-p">None of us will ever want to be in the position of attacking a victim. But the question should be asked - who is the victim?