Albany, New York - In a stunning admission disclosed Friday to a Sentinel Dispatch columnist, a 56 year old New York dentist has become the first woman to come forward to allege that she has never been assaulted by 77 year old disgraced comic Bill Cosby.
In recent weeks, the former star of The Cosby Show and the voice of Fat Albert has been accused of assaulting several women over a decades-long span. Cosby is counter-suing the most recent accuser, Judith Huth, who claims that in 1974 at the age of 15, Cosby gave her alcohol and forced her to perform a sex act on him while at the Playboy Mansion. Representatives for Mr. Cosby, when contacted by The Sentinel Dispatch, say that Ms. Huth tried to extort $250,000 from his client, offering to withdraw her claims if he paid the money.
To date, "America's Dad" has been accused of assaulting over a dozen women, usually drugging them in the process. Insiders in the entertainment industry and on the comedy circuit specifically say that this is no surprise and that the public should expect more accusations in the near future. "With each new day it seems there is a new accuser," said one west coast comedy club owner, on condition of anonymity.
However, in today's surprise announcement, 56 year old Dina Gratham dropped a bombshell when she claimed that over the course of meeting Mr. Cosby "at least 5 or 6 times" in the 1980's, he "never even looked at me inappropriately." Mrs. Gratham first met Cosby when he was about to perform at a comedy club in Albany and required an emergency root canal the day before his show. "I remember him coming into the office, and he was very polite and down-to-earth, and very funny, as I expected he would be." Grantham continued, "I had of course heard the rumours of his sexual escapades - who hadn't - but he turned out to be nothing but a gentleman with me and my other female co-workers."
Asked why it took her so long to come forward with her allegations of propriety and decency against Cosby, Mrs. Gratham responded "I didn't think anyone would believe me. I mean, Bill Cosby, the guy who always kept 'cold and flu' pills in his pocket and offered personal advise to pretty much any young woman who would listen? Honestly, who would believe my story?"
Mrs. Gratham has now given a full report of her encounters with Mr. Cosby to local police. "I would hope that other women would come forward, but I highly doubt that there are any with a similar story."
From Our New York Bureau