Hollywood exec's wife accuses Bill Cosby of sex assault

Entertainer Bill Cosby. Photo / AP

The wife of Hollywood executive Alan Ladd Jr has become the latest woman to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault.

In an essay penned for the Huffington Post blog, Cindra Ladd claims the embattled comic assaulted her in New York in 1969, when she was 21.

She writes: "In 1969, I met Bill Cosby while working in New York for the late film producer Ray Stark. I was a 21-year-old single woman in the world's most exciting city. He was a 32-year-old internationally known comedian and television star, one of the most likeable and popular entertainers in the business. He asked for my number and I gave it to him.

"We began hanging out, took in a movie, watched television and ate pizza and hot dogs in my apartment with my roommate. He was married to his current wife and he acted like a perfect gentleman who didn't come on to either of us, which, I have to admit, made me wonder what his objective was."

But then, one night, Cosby allegedly offered her a "miracle cure" for a headache, and despite her initial suspicion, Ladd took the capsule and blacked out.

She claims she woke up the following morning "nude in the bed of his friend's apartment" with very little memory of the night before.

She adds: "What I do recall, vividly and clearly, is waking up the next morning nude in the bed of his friend's apartment and seeing Cosby wearing a white terrycloth bathrobe and acting as if there was nothing unusual.

"It was obvious to me that he had had sex with me. I was horrified, embarrassed and ashamed. There was a mirror above the bed, which shocked me further.

"After some awkward small talk, I got out of there as fast as I could. Once in the elevator, I broke down crying, which I continued to do as I walked home to my apartment ... It never occurred to me to go to the police. It was a different time and 'date rape' was a concept that didn't exist.

"I just kept asking myself over and over in disbelief why this had happened to me. Other than my roommate, I did not discuss that night with anyone for 36 years."

In her Huffington Post essay, Ms Ladd explains she decided to come forward with her story because it seemed like "the right thing to do" in light of the allegations of abuse, rape and inappropriate behaviour levelled at Cosby from 30-plus women in the past four months.

Cosby has yet to directly address the accusations but his legal team has dismissed them. Cosby has never been charged with any crimes linked to the allegations against him.

- AAP