In the wake of more than a dozen allegations of sexual assault and rape, Bill Cosby is now being accused of using his daughter as a scapegoat to cover up a story in 1989 that would tarnish his image as America's ideal dad.

In an article released on Page Six, a former writer for the National Enquirer said that the actor leaked a story about his daughter Erinn's struggles with drugs and alcohol in exchange for the tabloid's compliance to kill a story about him "swinging with Sammy Davis Jr. and some showgirls in Las Vegas".

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Erinn was 23 at the time the story was released.

"My editor told me that daddy Cosby was the source. He ratted out his flesh and blood," said the source who wanted to maintain his anonymity.

In the said interview released in October of 1989, Cosby shared with the tabloid about his daughter's struggles, and how they were dealing with it through "tough love".

Cosby added in the said interview, "We love her and want her to get better, but we have to take a very firm, very tough stand that forces her to realize that no one can fix things for her. She has to beat this on her own."

David Brokaw, the actor's rep, had confirmed with the Associated Press at that time that Erinn was indeed seeking treatment for her substance abuse problem, and that Cosby did not want to talk about the matter further.

Brokaw had said that the only reason why Cosby gave the interview with the tabloid was because he had a relationship with them, and that he believed that he and his family were treated fairly.

Despite having previously stated that he would not talk about his daughter again, two months after news of her drug abuse came out, Cosby gave another interview with The Los Angeles Times wherein he lambasted her.

Cosby shared with the publication that Erinn "is really very selfish". He goes on to share that she has never had a job, and that she simply uses her boyfriends. He also said that Erinn was one to want the finer things in life, but "can't stand anybody else's dirt."

After the said interview, Washington Post columnist William Raspberry wrote, "Bill Cosby, actor and entertainer, is not Cliff Huxtable."

TagsBill Cosby