EXCLUSIVE: Bill Cosby, 85, in public for first time since June 2021

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Cosby, 85, seen in public for the first time since his June 2021 release from prison as he heads into an office in midtown Manhattan

• Bill Cosby, 85, has been seen in public for the first time in nearly two years, pictured on Wednesday in midtown Manhattan
• Cosby was last seen on June 30, 2021 when he was released from prison on appeal after serving three years for drugging and violating a woman in 2004
• Since then he has posted sporadic photos to Instagram, and in December said he intended to go on tour again in the spring and summer of this year 

Bill Cosby was out and about in New York City on Wednesday – his first public outing since being released from prison nearly two years ago.

Cosby, 85, was walking with the help of a stick and leaning on an aide as he arrived at an office building in midtown Manhattan.

The Philadelphia-born comedian, who has a townhouse in New York, was wearing a South Carolina sweater – despite having his 1986 honorary degree from the University of South Carolina revoked in June 2018.

Cosby was convicted in April 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a basketball coach, Andrea Constand, in 2004. He was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison, but only served three years of his sentence before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction.  

He was released on June 30, 2018 – the last time he was seen outside of his house.

Cosby on Wednesday looked somewhat frail, leaning on his assistant. He and those around him wore face masks inside their car, but removed them as they walked towards the office.

Bill Cosby is pictured on Wednesday in midtown Manhattan – the first sighing of the 85-year-old since his release from prison in June 2021

Cosby was leaning on an aide and walking with a stick on Wednesday. He has been registered blind since 2016

He walked with a stick during his June 2017 trial – which ended with a mistrial – and his 2018 retrial. 

His lawyers said at trial his sight was almost gone: he has been registered as blind since 2016.

Yet in December, Cosby announced that he was going to go on tour this year.

‘When I come out of this, I feel that I will be able to perform and be the Bill Cosby that my audience knows me to be,’ he said on December 28, in a surprise interview with radio station WGH Talk.

His spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, confirmed that the comedian is ‘looking at spring/summer to start touring.’

There has been no further information about dates or venues, and it is unclear how a comeback tour would be received.

More than 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault, with allegations dating back to the 1960s.

Cosby and his assistant were both wearing face masks when they got out of their car

The comedian said in December he intends to tour again this year, but there have been no dates or venues announced  

Cosby was sued in December by five women accusing him of sexual assault. The five took advantage of New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which took effect on Thanksgiving and gives adult survivors of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their abusers even if the statute of limitations on their claims has expired

In December, five women, including two actors who appeared on The Cosby Show, filed a lawsuit in New York accusing Cosby of sexually assaulting them.

The suit was filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which took effect on Thanksgiving and gives adult survivors of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their abusers even if the statute of limitations on their claims has expired.

The plaintiffs named the actor, Kaufman Astoria Studios Inc., The Carsey-Werner Company and NBCUniversal Media as defendants in the 34-page lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.

The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984 to 1992 on NBC, was filmed at studios now controlled by Kaufman Astoria and produced by Carsey-Werner, according to the civil action.

All the defendants are ‘culpable and liable because they knew and/or should have known that Bill Cosby was sexually abusing, assaulting, and/or battering women, including on their premises, but did nothing to stop it,’ according to the complaint.

Wyatt called the civil action ‘frivolous’ and accused plaintiffs of seeking a payout.

‘We believe that the courts as well as the court of public opinion will follow the rules of law and relieve Mr Cosby of these alleged accusations,’ Wyatt said in a statement.

‘Mr Cosby continues to vehemently deny all allegations waged against him and looks forward to defending himself in court.’

Cosby was last seen in July 12, in a photo he posted to Instagram to celebrate his 85th birthday.

He was seen at home, sitting in an armchair. 

The year before, he shared with DailyMail.com a photo marking his 84th birthday – which he celebrated in New York City, less than two weeks after his release from prison. 

Cosby posted this photo on July 12, 2022 to mark his 85th birthday. It was the last image of him, until Wednesday’s outing

Cosby on June 29, 2022, posted this photo to celebrate the first anniversary of his release from prison

This exclusive DailyMail.com photo shows Bill Cosby smiling and looking healthy as he celebrated his 84th birthday, on July 12, 2021

Cosby is seen on June 30, 2021 after his release from prison. He is leaning on his spokesman, Andrew Wyatt (right)

He praised his wife Camille, who he married in 1964, and who has stood by him throughout the years of sexual assault and rape allegations. 

‘I just got a fresh [hair]cut for this birthday dinner tonight,’ he said at the time.

‘In the words of James Brown, It’s a man’s world but it wouldn’t be nothing without Mrs Camille Cosby.’ 

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