Bill Cosby is a horrible human being — even when he isn’t allegedly drugging and raping women — according to detractors.
A journalist I’ve known for many years recalls a sordid tale about Cosby in the summer of 1989, when the reporter was working for the National Enquirer.
The supermarket weekly had a solid story about Cosby — whose show was No. 1 in TV ratings and who was viewed as a perfect father figure — “swinging with Sammy Davis Jr. and some showgirls in Las Vegas,” the reporter, who didn’t want to be named, told me yesterday.
Contacted by the Enquirer for comment, Cosby apparently handed the weekly a story about his then-23-year-old daughter Erinn’s battle with drug and alcohol abuse instead.
“My editor told me that daddy Cosby was the source. He ratted out his flesh and blood,” said my source.
Cosby was quoted in the flattering story as saying, “Deep down inside, she knows we love her.”
Veteran Hollywood publicist Dick Delson also told me about a less-than-savory experience with Cosby.
“Robert Culp was a good friend and client. He refused to do ‘I Spy’ unless Cosby was his co-star,” Delson said. “Up until then, no African-American had ever co-starred in a TV series. Culp made it happen.”
When Culp died of a sudden heart attack in 2010, Cosby balked at coming to his memorial service.
“When he did show up, he refused to speak on Bob’s behalf,” Delson said.
“I’m not a Cosby fan and never will be.”
Cosby’s reps did not return requests for comment.