Phylicia Rashad defends Bill Cosby against abuse claims

Bill Cosby's TV wife is speaking out about the sexual abuse allegations made against him.

Phylicia Rashad, who played Clair Huxtable to his Dr. Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," came to Cosby's defense, telling Showbiz411 that she never saw any of the behavior he's been accused of.

"Forget these women," she said. "What you're seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it's orchestrated. I don't know why or who's doing it, but it's the legacy. And it's a legacy that is so important to the culture."

Rashad added, "Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV. And it's worked. All his contracts have been cancelled."

Since November, at least 15 women have come forward with claims Cosby sexually assaulted them decades ago. Most of the women say he drugged them before he assaulted them. Earlier this week, two of those accusers joined a defamation lawsuit, contending he publicly branded them as liars through statements by his representatives.

Cosby, who has never been charged in connection with any of the allegations, has stayed largely quiet on the matter. Asked why he hasn't spoken out to defend himself, Rashad replied, "If he spoke now, what do you think the media would do with it?"