Beverly Johnson Reacts to Bill Cosby's Arraignment

Model, who accused Cosby of drugging her in the '80s, reacts on Twitter.

ByABC News
December 31, 2015, 12:22 PM

— -- Beverly Johnson has responded to the charge against Bill Cosby.

The iconic model took to Twitter to share her thoughts following Wednesday's court proceedings.

"When it comes down to it, truth is simple," Johnson, 63, tweeted. "There is nothing that we give to others that does not come back to us in some shape or form."

When it comes down to it, truth is simple. There is nothing that we give to others that does not come back to us in some shape or form.

— Beverly Johnson (@BeverlyJohnson1) December 31, 2015

On Wednesday, the famed comedian, 78, appeared in court, where he was charged with aggravated indecent assault stemming from an alleged 2004 incident in Pennsylvania, according to prosecutors and court documents. He was released on $1 million bail and is set to appear in court on Jan. 14. His attorney Monique Pressley called the charge "unjustified" and told ABC News, "We expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law."

Earlier this month, Cosby filed suit against Johnson for defamation, saying in a statement that "he never drugged defendant and her story is a lie."

In November of 2014, in a first-person essay for Vanity Fair, the model accused the comedian of drugging her in the mid-'80s but said she didn't believe she was raped. She later told ABC News, "I knew that I was in danger, I knew that this was not a recreational drug of any kind, it was...I was really afraid, I was afraid for my life."

She also included the alleged incident in a chapter in her memoir.

In his lawsuit, Cosby is asking for compensatory and punitive damages, a retraction of Johnson's statements and removal of the chapter from her memoir.

Johnson responded to the comments in a statement to People Magazine.

"I am aware of the statements from Bill Cosby. In cases of rape and abuse, abusers will do whatever they can to intimidate and weaken their victims to force them to stop fighting," she said. "I ask for your support of all of the victims involved. Thank you.”

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

On Wednesday, the famed comedian, 78, appeared in court, where he was charged with aggravated indecent assault stemming from an alleged 2004 incident in Pennsylvania, according to prosecutors and court documents. He was released on $1 million bail and is set to appear in court on Jan. 14. His attorney Monique Pressley called the charge \"unjustified\" and told ABC News, \"We expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law.\"

Earlier this month, Cosby filed suit against Johnson for defamation, saying in a statement that \"he never drugged defendant and her story is a lie.\"

In November of 2014, in a first-person essay for Vanity Fair, the model accused the comedian of drugging her in the mid-'80s but said she didn't believe she was raped. She later told ABC News, \"I knew that I was in danger, I knew that this was not a recreational drug of any kind, it was...I was really afraid, I was afraid for my life.\"

She also included the alleged incident in a chapter in her memoir.

In his lawsuit, Cosby is asking for compensatory and punitive damages, a retraction of Johnson's statements and removal of the chapter from her memoir.

Johnson responded to the comments in a statement to People Magazine.

\"I am aware of the statements from Bill Cosby. In cases of rape and abuse, abusers will do whatever they can to intimidate and weaken their victims to force them to stop fighting,\" she said. \"I ask for your support of all of the victims involved. Thank you.”

","publishedDate":"2015-12-31T17:22:00Z","contributors":[{"name":"ABC News","url":"","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2015-12-31T19:31:20Z","section":"Entertainment","wordCount":350,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"video","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":{"id":"36025058","type":"video","locator":"https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/bill-cosby-charged-assault-accusers-react-36025058","shortLocator":"http://abcn.ws/1TrnTuw","issued":"2015-12-31T09:34:31Z","created":"2015-12-31T09:34:31Z","modified":"2016-01-06T15:43:56Z","date":"2015-12-31T09:34:31Z","keywords":["Bill Cosby","Charged With Assault","Accusers React","maintained his innocence","alleged aggravated indecent assault","Video","36025058"],"section":"Nightline","title":"Bill Cosby Charged With Assault, Accusers React","headline":"Bill Cosby Charged With Assault, Accusers React","shortHeadline":"Bill Cosby Charged With Assault, Accusers React","linkHeadline":"Bill Cosby Charged With Assault, Accusers React","description":"Cosby, who has long maintained his innocence, was charged with alleged aggravated indecent assault.","leadInText":"Cosby, who has long maintained his innocence, was charged with alleged aggravated indecent assault. ","duration":554000,"contents":{"image":{"id":"36025059","created":"2015-12-31T09:19:00Z","modified":"2015-12-31T09:19:48Z","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"name":"raw","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"16x9","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"16x9t","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_16x9t_992.jpg"},{"name":"33x16","ratio":"33x16","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_33x16_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x3","ratio":"4x3","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_4x3_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x3t","ratio":"4x3t","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_4x3t_992.jpg"}],"description":"Bill Cosby Charged With Assault, Accusers React"},"playlist":[{"id":"36025058","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/12/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"32291635","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/07/150708_ntl_cosby_1252_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"31088681","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/05/150516_ntl_cosby_1239_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}}]},"streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/12/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}},"transcript":{},"alertTag":"","sectionRoot":"Nightline","adFlag":true,"noAds":false,"isAmbient":false,"sponsored":false,"hideDate":false,"hideReportTypo":false},"featuredImage":null,"dateline":"—","seo":{"JSONLD":{"videoObject":{"name":"Bill Cosby Charged With Assault, Accusers React","description":"Cosby, who has long maintained his innocence, was charged with alleged aggravated indecent assault.","uploadDate":"2015-12-31T09:34:31Z","thumbnailUrl":[null,"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_4x3_992.jpg?w=384","https://s.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_16x9_992.jpg?w=384"],"url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/12/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/12/151231_ntl_cosby_0339_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","publisher":{"name":"ABC News","logo":{"url":"","@type":"ImageObject"},"@type":"Organization"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","id":"https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/bill-cosby-charged-assault-accusers-react-36025058"},"duration":"PT9M14S"}}},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. Biden","firstName":"Joe","lastName":"Biden","party":"democrats","major":true,"incumbent":false,"winner":true,"votes":306},"republicans":{"id":8639,"displayName":"Donald Trump","shortDisplayName":"D. Trump","firstName":"Donald","lastName":"Trump","party":"republicans","major":true,"incumbent":true,"winner":false,"votes":232},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"electoral","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{},"total":306,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"81,283,098","value":81283098}},"republicans":{"available":{},"total":232,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"74,222,958","value":74222958}},"other":{"available":{},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":538},"needed":{"displayText":"270 to win","displayValue":"270","value":270},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"reporting":"99% of Expected Vote Reporting"},"senate":{"header":"Senate Seat Results","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":46,"winner":false},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":50,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":2}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"senate","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"12 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"12 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"12","value":12},"total":46,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 1 seat","displayValue":"1","value":1},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"23 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"23 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"23","value":23},"total":50,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 1 seat","displayValue":"-1","value":-1},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"0 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"0 Others up for election","displayValue":"0","value":0},"total":2,"popular":{}},"total":100},"needed":{"displayText":"51 for control","displayValue":"51","value":51},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:05.390Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:05PM ET"}},"house":{"header":"House Results: Dems Retain Control","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":222,"winner":true},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":210,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"house","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"233 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"233 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"233","value":233},"total":222,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 10 seats","displayValue":"-10","value":-10},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"201 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"201 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"201","value":201},"total":210,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 10 seats","displayValue":"10","value":10},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"1 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"1 Others up for election","displayValue":"1","value":1},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":435},"needed":{"displayText":"218 for control","displayValue":"218","value":218},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:02.900Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:02PM ET"}},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]},"electionsConfig":{}},"types":["electoral","senate","house"]}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewabcnews,wdgasec,wdgnewabcnweb,wdgnewabcnewsrollup","ns":"abcnews","pageName":"abcn:entertainment:story","pageType":"story","pageUrl":"abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/beverly-johnson-reacts-bill-cosbys-arraignment/story?id=36029833&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"abcn:site","tagID":"apage_news01","userABCookie":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","alertTag":"none","authors":"ABC News","authorsBureau":"none","authorsUnit":"none","dateline":"—","id":"36029833","modDate":"2015-12-31","mediaOnPage":"video","modTime":"14:31","provider":"ABC News","pubDate":"2015-12-31","pubTime":"12:22","section":"Entertainment","subBrand":"none","title":"Beverly Johnson Reacts to Bill Cosby's Arraignment ","videoId":"36025058","videoName":"Bill Cosby Charged With Assault, Accusers React","wordCount":350},"taboola":{"config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":null,"pageTypeOverrides":{"story":{"mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"},"home":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","container":"taboola-homepage-thumbnails","type":"home","targetType":"mix","placement":"Homepage Thumbnails"},"section":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","type":"category","targetType":"mix","placement":"Section Front Thumbnails"},"liveBlog":{"mode":"thumbnails-d","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":"Blog"}}}}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/Entertainment/beverly-johnson-reacts-bill-cosbys-arraignment/story?id=36029833&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","vary":{"host":"abcnews.go.com","cached":true,"path":"/Entertainment/beverly-johnson-reacts-bill-cosbys-arraignment/story","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","country":"us","userab":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","region":"gdpr"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};