Talk:Bill Cosby

"Convicted sex offender"
I've noticed that "Person A is an X, Y, Z, and convicted sex offender" is a common stylistic form on Wikipedia. Bill Cosby was convicted of aggravated indecent assault in 2018. The allegations of sexual misconduct, along with the conviction, received a great deal of media attention, and have significantly altered his legacy.

So, should the opening sentence be amended to read "...and convicted sex offender" at the end? If not, why not? Should this manner of introducing a BLP be avoided in general? What do you think? Philomathes2357 (talk) 06:43, 6 March 2024 (UTC)


 * I do understand that his conviction was overturned on a technicality. The opening sentence could still read "...and former convicted sex offender". Philomathes2357 (talk) 20:40, 6 March 2024 (UTC)
 * No. See Biographies_of_living_persons/Noticeboard/Archive350 for a discussion about how a sentence like that violates NPOV. The way we cover Cosby's legal situation in the first paragraph is better. – Muboshgu (talk) 20:43, 6 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Does this imply in your view that the phrase is always, or almost always, inappropriate in the opening sentence of a BLP? Philomathes2357 (talk) 20:52, 6 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Yes, it's always inappropriate. I try to remove it anywhere I find it. – Muboshgu (talk) 21:35, 6 March 2024 (UTC)
 * I tend to agree with you, actually. The only reason I thought there might be merit in the case of Cosby is because it's been covered so extensively. The majority of Bill Cosby's mentions in media over the last decade have been because of the sex allegations & conviction.
 * It seems like there is a strong consensus against saying "convicted felon" or "convicted sex offender" in the opening sentence, so I will go ahead and remove it when I see it, too. Thanks for your input. Philomathes2357 (talk) 21:48, 6 March 2024 (UTC)

Remove ‘Former’ from opening sentence
Hello

Bill Cosby has not retired and so is not ‘former’ to any of his still active to all components of his career. 107.122.85.72 (talk) 15:37, 5 April 2024 (UTC) 107.122.85.72 (talk) Bold Edit: Will see to ‘former’ is removed within 48 hours and restructure opening sentence to state the factual presumption of innocence Cosby currently has as a Constitutional right in fact of law. 107.122.85.72 (talk) 21:34, 5 April 2024 (UTC)
 * What are you talking about? He's 86 and has not engaged in any professional activity since at least 2018. Not surprisingly multiple reliable sources describe him as "former".,,, , , , . DeCausa (talk) 22:11, 5 April 2024 (UTC)
 * There is no formal announcement from Cosby or representative of Cosby’s announcement of his retirement. In fact current announcements by a Cosby representative is the planning of a return to active touring.
 * Wiki is not a gossip columnists paradise. It documents the facts of living persons.107.116.110.12 (talk) 20:12, 17 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Cosby or his representatives would be a primary source. Wikipedia relies on secondary sources. If secondary sources consider him a former actor, we go with that. Cortador (talk) 15:00, 25 April 2024 (UTC)
 * So you just cite the National Enquirer, make it up and turn Wikipedia into agossip columnist’s paradise when the facts are Cosby is known to be planning to tour, write books etc. Got it.24.113.167.154 (talk) 12:58, 26 April 2024 (UTC)
 * The National Enquirer is an unreliable source as per list of perennial sources, and thus not suitable as a source. However, let that not keep you from being worked up by things you made up in your head. Cortador (talk) 21:53, 26 April 2024 (UTC)
 * No one has cited the National Enquirer. I cited The Independent, CNN, BBC, Variety, Fox News, The Atlantic, and The New York Times. "known to be planning to tour, write books". That's gossip. DeCausa (talk) 21:59, 26 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Bill Cosby is eyeing a return to touring. The controversial comedian said as much during a surprise radio interview on “WGH Talk” with host Scott Spears. Cosby answered “yes” when asked if he finally might be able to tour again (from Variety) Get rid of the racist based ‘former’ which an edit by supremacy advocates.24.113.175.78 (talk) 22:33, 5 May 2024 (UTC)

Category:American sportspeople convicted of crimes
Can this category be added? 150.143.27.147 (talk) 20:00, 27 April 2024 (UTC)


 * Did Cosby ever do sports professionally? I think that categy is reserved for professionals and/or people primarily known as sportspeople. Cortador (talk) 14:08, 28 April 2024 (UTC)
 * In any case this is mooted by the appeal decision. RadioactiveBoulevardier (talk) 21:24, 7 May 2024 (UTC)