Bill Cosby agreed to sit down with the National Enquirer in 2005 in exchange for the tabloid promising not to publish an interview with a former model who said the comedian had assaulted her in the mid-1980s. Cosby acknowledged the move under oath in 2005, according to the New York Times, which cites previously sealed court documents. “I would give them an exclusive story, my words,” Cosby said in a deposition. In exchange, the Enquirer “would not print the story of—print Beth’s story,” the comedian allegedly added, referring to Beth Ferrier.
During the deposition, Cosby allegedly acknowledged that he feared another account of sexual abuse would give more credibility to the accusations by Andrea Constand, a Temple University staff member who alleged the comedian had drugged and molested her. The Times cites the back-and-forth:
“Did you ever think that if Beth Ferrier’s story was printed in The National Enquirer, that that would make the public believe that maybe Andrea was also telling the truth?” he was asked.
“Exactly,” he replied.
Neither the Enquirer nor Cosby’s lawyers commented on the story.
Earlier this week, the New York Post’s Page Six claimed that Cosby leaked a story about his daughter’s battle with drug and alcohol addiction to the Enquirer in exchange for the tabloid killing a story about the comedian “swinging with Sammy Davis Jr. And some showgirls in Las Vegas.” The Post’s Richard Johnson cited an unnamed former Enquirer reporter as his source for the claim.
