February 10, 2016

Kanye West tweets Bill Cosby is innocent, receives backlash

Comedian faces sexual assault charges

By Daniel Craig
PhillyVoice Staff

In the latest from the ongoing series called "why the Internet is talking about Kanye West," the rapper has set off a backlash for three words he tweeted about an ongoing criminal case in Montgomery County.

His tweet wasn't about just any case, of course. No, it was about the Bill Cosby case. The Philly-born comedian faces charges of sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee.

In addition to that case, Cosby has been accused of sexually assaulting more than 50 women. West, never the stranger to controversy on Twitter, posted that he thought the comedian was innocent on Tuesday.

BILL COSBY INNOCENT !!!!!!!!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 9, 2016

As you can imagine, this didn't go over so well. West was subsequently lambasted by fellow celebrities...

Are we sure Kanye isn't just a character from Zoolander?
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) February 10, 2016

Kanye!! You can't be for real. FIFTY WOMEN. With nothing to gain thanks to a statute of limitations ON RAPE. Oy. https://t.co/3ekYD43uMs
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) February 9, 2016

There are easier ways to trend, Kanye.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 10, 2016

"Nothing could diminish my love for Kanye"- me, from 2004 until I looked at Twitter just now
— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) February 10, 2016

...members of the media...

Kris Jenner should revoke Kanye's Twitter access
— Mitchell Sunderland (@mitchsunderland) February 10, 2016

Jesus, Kanye, this is just getting embarrassing now. pic.twitter.com/kbGX6YPIAU
— Chris Hewitt (@ChrisHewitt) February 10, 2016

https://t.co/AS7qvgtMjU God, I now take back all those nice things I said about Kanye over the years. Jesus.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) February 10, 2016

...and his fans.

Being a Kanye fan is hard
— Alex Rest (@Alexandtherest) February 10, 2016

I don't think I can be a Kanye fan anymore. This hurts. He's the reason I produce but it's obvious he does not care about women. :/
— 1080P_ON_AFROPUNK (@sammusmusic) February 10, 2016

West's new album is being released Thursday. We would try to reach out to him for clarification on the Cosby tweet, but...