Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who became famous as Bill Cosby‘s television son Theo, feels the legacy of “The Cosby Show” is now “tarnished” as a result of his sitcom dad’s misdeeds.
“My biggest concern is when it comes to images of people of color on television and film, no matter what … negative stereotypes of people of color, we’ve always had ‘The Cosby Show’ to hold up against that,” he told the Associated Press Friday.
Warner added that Cosby‘s actions toward dozens of women might make the legacy of the lovable Huxtables irrelevant in a few decades.
“The fact that we no longer have that, that’s the thing that saddens me the most because in a few generations the Huxtables will have been just a fairy tale,” he said.
Warner said he has spoken to Cosby since the avalanche of sexual assault allegations has come out, but those conversations would stay between the two men.
“It’s just a bad situation all around — for him, for his family, the women, their families, the legacy of the show,” said Warner during an interview Thursday.
Warner’s comments come as Cosby will be forced to testify on Friday in response to allegations he sexually assaulted a a 15-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion 40 years ago.