Comedian Bill Cosby has issued a video message aimed at his fans that shows him wearing fuchsia-coloured pyjamas while talking on the phone about how amusing he is.
He makes no mention of the rape and sexual assault allegations made against him in recent months by more than 20 women.
The television comedy legend, 77, appears in the video that lasts only around 10 seconds and was shown on ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday morning.
Cosby does not address the camera directly but is filmed sitting on a grey striped armchair in front of blue curtains speaking on an old-fashioned white rotary phone. The recipient of the phone call is not identified.
“You know I’ll be hilarious – can’t wait!” Cosby is heard telling the mystery friend about a forthcoming show.
Cosby has continued to perform his standup comedy routine at theatres around North America as the scandal rumbles on. He has never been charged in relation to any of the accusations, which surfaced again last year but go back decades, and has fiercely denied any wrongdoing.
Most of the women, many of whom have chosen to identify themselves, accuse Cosby of spiking their drinks or using his powerful position as a television star to get them alone before assaulting or attempting to assault them.
He accompanied the video on Monday with a written message which read: “Dear Fans: I hope you enjoy my wonderful video message that’s filled with laughter.”
And it added, in a tone of defiance he has adopted in his brief recent responses to the accusations: “Hey, hey, hey, I’m far from finished.”
In the video Cosby is wearing button-up purple-pink silk pyjamas and barely smiles. It is the first such message he has issued for fans since the latest allegations arose last autumn.
