(CNN) — The University of Massachusetts Amherst and Bill Cosby have split ways amid allegations of sexual assault and rape.
At least 15 women have spoken out to various media outlets accusing the comedian of sexual misconduct.
“Bill Cosby has agreed to resign as an honorary co-chair of UMass Amherst’s capital campaign. He no longer has any affiliation with the campaign nor does he serve in any other capacity for the university,” said Ed Blaguszewski, a spokesman for the school.
Many of the women accusing Cosby say he drugged them before he raped them. Some of the alleged attacks took place decades ago.
The 77-year-old comedian has denied some of the allegations and refused to discuss others. He has never been prosecuted.
The accusations have taken their toll on Cosby’s reputation as the beloved Dr. Huxtable — the sweet, sweater-wearing father on the sitcom, “The Cosby Show.”
They’ve also hit his earnings, as Netflix postponed a stand-up comedy special and NBC also decided against moving forward with a Cosby project.
A lawyer for Cosby has called the increasing number of claims of sexual assault against the comedian “ridiculous” and said the media should stop airing “unsubstantiated, fantastical stories.”
Martin D. Singer said in a written statement sent to CNN that it defies common sense that “so many people would have said nothing, done nothing, and made no reports to law enforcement or asserted civil claims if they thought they had been assaulted over a span of so many years.”
