The Man Behind the Persona: Bill Cosby was Never 'America's Dad' by Madeline VandenHouten

The Man Behind the Persona: Bill Cosby was Never 'America's Dad' by Madeline VandenHouten

Communication

Billl Cosby's allegations caused one of the most catastrophic identity crises in American history. Between October 16, 2014 and December 30, 2015, over fifty women accused award winning entertainer of sexually assaulting them. Bill Cosby and his public relations personnel used his wholesome, kind hearted television personality to their advantage when responding to the press. They used a series of apologia strategies to focus on image restoration. This research analyzes the apologia genre from three main perspectives: Cosby, his public relations personnel, and his surrogates. The defense of Bill Cosby was achieved by the attempt to attack his accusers, the use of the strategy of avoidance and confusion, and the bolstering of both his philanthropic and fictional images.

Madeline VandenHouten

Senior Showcase Oral presentation

Ripon College

April 18, 2017

The author reserves all rights.

pdf

Major: Communication
Minors: Spanish and Education

Green Bay, Wisconsin