Kathie Lee claims Bill Cosby tried to kiss her

theGRIO REPORT - Kathie Lee Gifford has had Bill Cosby's back for weeks — but this morning the "Today" show co-host admitted that the comic did try to kiss her once in the late 70s...

Blue Telusma

Dec 16, 2014

Kathie Lee Gifford has had Bill Cosby’s back for weeks — but Tuesday morning, the Today co-host admitted that the comic did try to kiss her once in the late 70s.

According to Gifford, the incident occurred when she and her backup singers opened for Cosby on a comedy tour.

In the interest of protecting her friend, she stressed that Cosby showed her and her backup singers “great kindness and generosity” during the two years they performed together.

Gifford said on Today:

I along with so many Americans and people around the world don’t want these (accusations) to be true. I will admit towards the end of the tour the last time I saw him he did try to kiss me. I said, ‘No,’ I said, ‘Bill, we’re friends.’ He said, ‘OK, good night,” and I said, ‘Good night.’ I went into my room and he went into his room. I’m not saying these women’s allegations are not true. From my own personal experiences, it didn’t happen.

Gifford also mentioned that Cosby brewed three cappuccinos for her and her singers every time they got off the stage at the end of their set — a memory that now gives her a “chill” after she heard of supermodel Beverly Johnson’s accusations that Cosby had attacked her after spiking a cappuccino with drugs.

It is worth noting that the daytime host begrudgingly made these admissions just a day after Cosby’s wife, Camille, finally addressed the media. It appears that even his defenders have now found themselves buckling under the never ending wave of scrutiny and accusers.