Activists Demand Removal of Cosby's Star on Walk of Fame

A group of civil rights activists asked the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce today to remove Bill Cosby’s star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame in light of continuing allegations that he drugged and sexually assaulted women, but chamber officials quickly rejected the request.

Leron Gubler, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, confirmed that the chamber had received inquiries about removing Cosby’s star, as well as that of Donald Trump, who has been under fire in recent weeks for disparaging comments he made about Mexican immigrants.

“The answer is no,” Gubler said. “The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a registered historic landmark. Once a star has been added to the Walk, it is considered part of the historic fabric of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Because of this, we have never removed a star from the Walk.”

Earl Ofari Hutchinson of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable and Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope sent the chamber a letter calling for the removal of Cosby’s star, particularly in light of a 2005 court deposition in which the comedian admitted obtaining quaaludes that he intended to give to women with whom he wanted to have sex.

“The Walk of Fame is designed to honor entertainment industry notables who have made positive and wholesome contributions to American culture and life,” Hutchinson and Ali wrote in their letter. “The walk draws thousands of visitors and admirers globally each year, to praise and admire these notables. Drugging and rape are serious crimes and having a star on the walk honoring Cosby after his admissions of these acts is a gross slap at the industry and the public.”

In responding to the request, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce cited a quote from the late “honorary mayor of Hollywood” Johnny Grant, who once responded to a similar inquiry by saying, “Stars are awarded for professional achievement to the world of entertainment and contributions to the community. A celebrity’s politics, philosophy, irrational behavior, outrageous remarks or anything like that have never been cause to remove a Walk of Fame star.”

City News Service