Iyanla Vanzant’s Shocking Explanation of Bill Cosby’s Alleged Crimes Has Fans Outraged

In this episode of Counsel Culture, Iyanla Vanzant and host Nick Cannon explore the complex conversation surrounding black men, especially famous ones, and their ability to heal from the injuries of public opinion.

On August 11, Cannon shared an unreleased clip from a February 2024 conversation titled “Healing In Public,” by which the 2 discussed whether comedian/actor Bill Cosby could heal from his demons.

“We have some demons,” Cannon said, before eventually asking Vanzant “how to deal with them.” She responded. “Well, first of all, don’t call them demons and don’t judge them as bad or wrong. They’re all lessons that God wants us to learn.” Cannon later responded, “I think we have to call them what they are. Bill Cosby has some demons.”

The “demons” Cannon was likely referring to were multiple accusations that he drugged and sexually assaulted women between 1965 and 2004. In 2018, Cosby, who admitted to having sex with women and using the sedative Quaalude, was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault of former Temple University worker Andrea Constand. Cosby was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison, but his conviction was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2021 on grounds that his due process rights were violated.

According to Cannon, Cosby will need to have had some “demons” to behave the way in which he did for therefore a few years. But Vanzant didn’t see fit to place all of the blame on him.

“Is he a demon or is he a broken boy who became a wounded man who became purposeful to make money. So they exploited his weaknesses and kept quiet for their own benefit?” Vanzant said, questioning Cannon’s thoughts on the comedy legend. She was quick to make clear that she wasn’t excusing anything he allegedly did, but was encouraging people to take a deeper look. “Was he a broken boy? Do we know who was fucking him? Do we know what was hurting him?” she asked.

The two traded idealistic roles Cosby has played throughout his illustrious profession before agreeing that probably nobody has ever asked him, “How do you feel?”

Comments under the Instagram post sharing the clip offered a range of thoughts on Vanzant and Cannon’s perspectives.

One fan saw Cannon’s perspective on taking responsibility: “I mean I have to go with Nick on this!! These evil spirits that are known to be around… and good is good and bad is bad, at some point you have to know better. Learn to fight these demons!!!!”

While one other believed Cosby had financial access to much-needed help. “He had millions of dollars to seek help. He was not a slave who was sent to work for others. She needs to stop.”

Others saw Cannon’s resistance to Vanzant’s reasoning as an avoidance of his own inner healing. “She spoke truth to power. If you don’t heal a wounded little boy, he’s going to become a wounded man whose actions are 95% from a child’s perspective. Judging Nick like that without the full scope reveals your wounds, bro. He let you down because someone let little Nick down.”

Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, a life coach and psychologist who appeared on MTV’s Teen Mom, spoke out in support of Vanzant. “They used his pain and trauma for entertainment, and when they saw fit, they used that same pain and trauma to exploit him. That’s a common narrative for a lot of black men. Great insight. @iyanlavanzant.”

Several comments disagreed or disagreed with Cannon and Vanzant. However, they praised the conversation and the way in which they handled it.