Bill Cosby sexual assault cases

In 2014, multiple allegations emerged that Bill Cosby, a film, television, and stand-up comedy star often cited as a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, had sexually assaulted dozens of women throughout his career. Cosby was well known in the United States for the fatherly image he conveyed through his portrayal of Cliff Huxtable in the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992) and gained a reputation as "America's Dad", but the allegations ended his career and sharply diminished his status as a pop culture icon. He received numerous awards and honorary degrees throughout his career, many of which were revoked. There were previous allegations against Cosby, but they were dismissed and accusers were ignored or disbelieved.