The Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture, set to open in September, announced Tuesday it will include two objects from Bill Cosby’s career in an entertainment exhibit.
The inclusion comes as Cosby continues to fight allegations that he has drugged and sexually assaulted nearly 60 women.
Museum officials defended their decision to include artifacts from the longtime-running “Cosby Show” in the inaugural Taking the Stage exhibition, which will feature 150 objects related to theater, film, TV and entertainment.
“There is not a Bill Cosby exhibition,” the museum said in a statement late Tuesday. “Within the Taking the Stage exhibit, there are 150 objects and two are related to Bill Cosby’s career in TV and comedy – one comic book from “I Spy” in the TV Pioneers case along with other materials from various TV shows, and the cover of one album “I Started Out as a Child” (1964) in the comedians case which features six African American comedians: Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, Moms Mabley, Dick Gregory, Godfrey Cambridge and Bill Cosby.”
The $540 million museum will open Sept. 24 and will feature 3,000 items in 11 exhibitions, meant to give visitors a better understanding of African-Americans’ experiences.
