Veteran comedian Bill Cosy is facing sexual assault allegation from almost 35 women. (Photo : YouTube)
Bill Cosby has been dumped from the much-awaited upcoming documentary. The makers of the movie, "Painted Down," have confirmed that the comedian is no longer associated with the project.
"Cosby is no longer attached to the project," the film's producer, Nonie Robinson, told Deadline, before further adding that the decision has been taken in the wake of shocking details from the recent "court deposition being made public" by New York Times.
Robinson also cited Whoopi Goldberg and CAA's recent stand against the 77-year-old comedian as one of their reasons to remove him from the project. The producer's decision comes as a surprise as earlier he had shown his extreme support for the comedian when the controversy was in its early stages.
Robinson's film, which is being directed by Marques Miles, is currently in post-production and is expected to feature at the Sundance Film Festival. Cosby's interview, which amounted to 10 minutes in a 120-minute documentary, is now completely removed, Entertainment Weekly reported.
"Painted Down" is a documentary based on the age-old practice of hiring white men as a body double for an actor of Afro-American descent. In the interview, which now will not be featured in the movie, Cosby recalled how he came across the practice for the first time while filming 1960s TV series "I Spy."
Cosby said in the interview that on the sets, he saw a white man who was being painted in black color to become his body double. The comedian objected to the practice and the next day a black stuntman was hired for the purpose.
Cosby was also the first star who had spoken out against the practice and was also pivotal in establishing Black Stuntmen's Association. The organization used to have a lengthy tribute on its website which is now removed, apparently in the wake of sexual abuse accusations raised by close to 20 women against him.
