Bill Cosby‘s attorney John P. Schmitt issued a statement Monday criticizing journalist Stacy Brown, who interviewed the comedian for a New York Post story published online Saturday. Schmitt alleges his client was unaware the conversation was being recorded and would wind up in the Post.
“Mr. Brown did not indicate that he was interviewing Mr. Cosby for publication, did not say that he was reporting for the New York Post, and did not tell Mr. Cosby that the conversation was being recorded,” Schmitt wrote in a statement obtained by TheWrap. “In a discussion of journalistic standards, Mr. Brown failed to adhere to the most basic standards of his profession.”
Cosby has been accused of raping, sexually assaulting or drugging more than 20 women in recent weeks. His interview with Brown was one of the only times the comedian has broken his silence since the allegations began mounting.
During Cosby’s conversation with Brown, the TV legend reportedly said he expected “the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism” by approaching the story with a “neutral mind.”
According to his attorney, Cosby was under the impression that Brown, a freelance journalist, was speaking to him on behalf of an African-American news outlet.
“Mr. Cosby and Mr. Brown did in fact have a telephone conversation,” the statement read. “Mr. Brown identified himself as a freelance reporter for a number of African-American media outlets, which prompted Mr. Cosby’s comment regarding the African-American media.”
In an interview with USA Today, Brown did not deny any part of the attorney’s statement.
“I’m not going to argue with him or the statement. But the call was so brief,” Brown said. “It was two minutes. It just wasn’t a thing where I could say at the end, ‘Is this something you mind if I share?’”
The New York Post has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.
As TheWrap previously reported, Cosby’s wife Camille Cosby also issued a statement Monday, claiming the media has given his accusers a pass.
“There appears to be no vetting of my husband’s accusers before stories are published or aired. An accusation is published, and immediately goes viral,” she wrote. “But the question should be asked — who is the victim?”
Read Schmitt’s full statement below:
“On Saturday, the New York Post published an article by Stacy Brown indicating that
Bill Cosby ‘broke his silence’ Friday in a discussion with Mr. Brown. Various media outlets have reported on the story with the headline ‘Bill Cosby Speaks Out.’“Mr. Cosby and Mr. Brown did in fact have a telephone conversation.
“Mr. Brown identified himself as a freelance reporter for a number of African-American media outlets, which prompted Mr. Cosby’s comment regarding the African-American media.
“Mr. Brown did not indicate that he was interviewing Mr. Cosby for publication, did not say that he was reporting for the New York Post, and did not tell Mr. Cosby that the conversation was being recorded.
“In a discussion of journalistic standards, Mr. Brown failed to adhere to the most basic standards of his profession.”