Chris Rock, cast of 'Top Five' talk Bill Cosby and defend Hannibal Buress
theGRIO REPORT - Chris Rock and the cast of his new film Top Five weighed in on fellow comedian Hannibal Buress bringing up Bill Cosby and the rape allegations that have been made against him during a stand-up routine.
Chris Rock and the cast of his new film, Top Five, weighed in Bill Cosby and their fellow comedian Hannibal Buress, who many credit or blame for bringing the Cosby rape allegations back into public discussion. During an October stand-up in Philadelphia that went viral, Buress joked that Cosby was hypocritical because he spoke down to black people but has a dark secret of his own.
“Bill Cosby has the f***ing smuggest old black man public persona that I hate. Pull your pants up, black people. I was on TV in the ’80s. I can talk down to you because I had a successful sitcom. Yeah, but you raped women, Bill Cosby. So, brings you down a couple notches. I don’t curse on stage. Well, yeah, you’re a rapist,” Buress joked.
theGrio:Â Comedian Hannibal Buress calls Bill Cosby a rapist during stand-up routine
Some black comedians took issue with the fact that another one of their own would provide fodder for mainstream media to take down one of the most iconic African-Americans in history. Faizon Love, who many recognize as “Big Worm” from the movie Friday, threw his support behind Cosby while calling Buress a “house n***er.”
theGrio: Faizon Love supports Bill Cosby, calls Hannibal Buress a house N***a
TheGrio’s Carrie Healey was at Chris Rock’s New York premiere for his latest film, Top Five, and talked to the cast, including some big name comedians, about the rape accusations and whether they felt Buress went too far in joking about Cosby.Â
“This whole thing is just sad,” Rock, who wrote, directed and starred in the upcoming film, said. “I’ll be glad when it’s over.”
One of the film’s co-stars, Hayley Marie Norman, also commented, saying, “Comedy is a lot of times the best way to talk about things that are happening in politics and the world.”
“I don’t think it was bad that [Buress] said anything,” Norman added.
Funny men Ben Vereen, Bruce Bruce and JB Smoove also talked to theGrio.
“Everything needs to be addressed, whether it’s good or bad,” said Bruce.
Top Five hits theaters December 12.
Follow theGrio’s Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.Â
