Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy has found himself at the centre of a political storm after allegedly naming disgraced comedian Bill Cosby as one of his childhood role models.
The Controversial Video
According to reports from The Sun, the remarks were made during a video message recorded for civil servants to mark International Men's Day. Mr Lammy is believed to have been asked which figures he looked up to most during his youth.
While he reportedly placed the revered former South African president Nelson Mandela at the top of his list, he then included Bill Cosby as a second option. The footage containing this reference was allegedly cut from the final video package before its release.
Bill Cosby's Troubled Legacy
Bill Cosby's inclusion is deeply problematic given his history of sexual assault allegations. More than 60 women have accused Cosby of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. The first significant accusation came from Andrea Constand in 2004, with dozens more women coming forward with similar claims in the following years.
Cosby became a symbol of the #MeToo movement when he was convicted for sexual assault in 2018 and subsequently jailed. However, his conviction was overturned in 2021 by Pennsylvania's Supreme Court, which cited a prior deal that should have prevented his prosecution. Despite this, Cosby continues to face numerous lawsuits and allegations across the United States.
Ongoing Legal Battles and Fallout
The legal troubles for the entertainer are far from over. Last year, a judge in Las Vegas allowed a lawsuit from 10 more women to proceed. This followed Nevada's decision to lift the statute of limitations for civil claims by survivors of sexual violence.
In 2023, a woman who worked as a stand-in on The Cosby Show in the 1980s filed a lawsuit under New York's expiring Adult Survivors Act. She alleged that Cosby drugged and sexually abused her after offering to mentor her acting career. The lawsuit claimed that Cosby 'could do whatever he wanted to do with impunity' on the set of his show.
The Daily Mail has approached David Lammy's office for comment regarding the reported gaffe. This incident poses a significant challenge for the Deputy PM, whose role as Justice Secretary places him at the heart of the UK's legal and judicial system.
