The Television Critics Association announced that it had rescinded Bill Cosby’s 2002 Career Achievement Award, the first time the organisation has revoked an award.
“Since the inaugural TCA Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Grant Tinker in 1985, this is the first time there has been a groundswell to vacate an honor,” TCA President Daniel Fienberg said in a statement.
“It was essential that the entire membership have the opportunity to vote and the results were decisive.”
The news came just before Cosby was sentenced to prison for aggravated indecent assault for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand.
Conversely, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce issued a statement on Tuesday morning announcing its decision not to remove Cosby’s star from the Walk of Fame.
“The stars only commemorate the recipient’s professional accomplishments,” the organisation’s statement read. “It is regrettable when the personal lives of inductees do not measure up to public standards and expectations; however, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce does not remove stars from the Walk of Fame.”
Fallout from Cosby’s actions has grown in recent years, with a number of universities rescinding honorary degrees given to Cosby, including Yale, Boston College, Notre Dame and Temple, the comedian’s alma mater.
After Cosby’s April conviction, the comedian’s name was removed from the online annals of the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame.
