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Five Cosby accusers speak out in joint CNN interview

Five of Bill Cosby's sexual assault accusers talked with CNN in a joint interview yesterday, with one saying the comedian ought to "suffer like we've all suffered."

Five of Bill Cosby's sexual assault accusers talked with CNN in a joint interview yesterday, with one saying the comedian ought to "suffer like we've all suffered."

Joan Tarshis, Barbara Bowman, Kristina Ruehli, Victoria Valentino, and P.J. Masten spoke with Alisyn Camerota and Don Lemon on Monday for the special The Cosby Show: A Legend Under Fire. Thankfully, the program held a remarkably different tone than that of Lemon's bizarre initial interview with Tarshis from last month, in which Lemon asked Tarshis if she had considered biting Cosby's penis during the alleged assault.

The group addressed the ongoing uproar against Cosby, providing Camerota and Lemon with the repercussions they hope the comedian might face.

"I want him to suffer, suffer like we have all suffered," accuser Masten said at one point, adding that she'd like Cosby's Emmy awards rescinded. Victoria Valentino, for her part, said that Cosby ought to have his honorary doctorate from Temple University stripped away.

Barbara Bowman told the hosts that there are more accusers who have yet to come forward, which Masten corroborated, stating that she had spoken to several former Playboy bunnies who claim similar abuse at Cosby's hand.

The group also took questions collectively, with four of the five women saying they had told someone after the alleged assault but were told to not take it any further. All five said they never wanted financial compensation from Cosby, and that they were both drugged and raped during their experiences.

Another segment on the special featured an interview with fellow accuser Janice Dickinson, who claims that Cosby's assault has given her "post-traumatic stress" accompanied by being constantly "victim shamed."

"He's going to get his," Dickinson said. "I'm not taking this sitting down."

[CNN]