Bill Cosby was someone Kenan Thompson once looked up to. In fact, when Thompson auditioned for "All That," he impressed the show's executive producer at the time, Brian Robbins, by nailing an impression of the now-disgraced comedian, per The Washington Post. Thompson would later spoof Cosby on "Saturday Night Live."
But after dozens of women came forward and accused Cosby of sex crimes, fans were confronted with the realization that the family-friendly comic possibly had a dark side. "It's one of the more heartbreaking things of my life," Thompson said of Cosby's downfall while speaking at the New Yorker Festival in 2019, per Deadline. "He was the first comedian I grew to know."
Thompson actually appeared in a project that Cosby co-wrote and produced; the "SNL" star played the title character in the 2004 "Fat Albert" movie. "It felt gross to be in such a close proximity to that," Thompson told NPR of how the allegations against Cosby affected the way he later regarded their time working together. "I was still proud of the movie, but definitely kind of devastated that it had this, you know, shadow around it now." Thompson revealed that he once admired Cosby so much that he read his autobiography and aspired to have a similar career, adding, "I felt super betrayed for being such a big fan and, you know, idolizing somebody who was, you know, entrenched in what they were entrenched in."
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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