DEPUTY PM David Lammy made an embarrassing gaffe by calling sex-pest comedian Bill Cosby his childhood role model.
The Justice Secretary made the admission while filming a video for civil servants marking International Men’s Day.
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David Lammy made an embarrassing gaffe by calling sex-pest comedian Bill Cosby his childhood role modelCredit: Alamy
More than 60 women have accused US television star Cosby of rape or sexual assaultCredit: AP
Asked who his top male role models were growing up, Mr Lammy first listed former South African president Nelson Mandela — but then added Cosby too.
The footage had to be cut.
More than 60 women have accused US television star Cosby of rape or sexual assault.
The first allegation against him dated back to 1965.
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Then, in 2022, he was found liable in the Los Angeles Supreme Court for having sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl.
A source close to the Deputy PM stressed that he was speaking specifically about childhood role models and was referring to a time before Cosby’s crimes were known.
The source added: “Lammy’s view is that Cosby’s crimes were abhorrent, and he does not represent a role model for anyone.
“Lammy has previously talked about Cosby being seen as a role model in the 1980s for many young Black men, before his horrific crimes were known, in an era when positively portrayed Black faces were few and far between on TV.”
