Former actor and stand-up comedian Bill Cosby surprised Twitter users Sunday with an unexpected Father’s Day tweet.
Cosby wrote that it is "an honor to be called a Father," after branding himself "America's Dad." He included an old video of himself speaking of racism in America.
Hey, Hey, Hey...It’s America’s Dad...I know it’s late, but to all of the Dads... It’s an honor to be called a Father, so let’s make today a renewed oath to fulfilling our purpose —strengthening our families and communities.#HappyFathersDay#RenewedOathToOurFamily pic.twitter.com/6EGrF87t6G
— Bill Cosby (@BillCosby) June 17, 2019
#HappyFathersDay#RenewedOathToOurFamily#RenewedOathToOurCommunity#AmericasFavoriteDad#FarFromFinished pic.twitter.com/ETRvzxoxGt
— Bill Cosby (@BillCosby) June 17, 2019
Cosby's message could not come at a worse time. The 81-year-old is currently serving a three to 10 year sentence for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He was convicted in April 2018.
Cosby is incarcerated at SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Spokesman Andrew Wyatt posted Cosby's Father's Day greeting for him. Wyatt told USA Today that the message was aimed at mentorship group Man Up.
"Mr. Cosby’s (message) consisted of telling these men who have been incarcerated for many years, but are up for parole soon...to...take the word “disadvantage” and remove the “dis,” and start focusing on the advantage," Wyatt said. "That advantage is to be better fathers and productive citizens." (USA Today)
Twitter users were not impressed.
In response to Cosby's tweet, user David Bates wrote that "America just threw up in it's mouth a little bit."
America just threw up in it's mouth a little bit.
— David Bates (@DavidBWriter) June 17, 2019
Another user posted a GIF chastising Cosby for failing to "read the room." Others followed suit.
— que basura (@djane_go) June 17, 2019
— A.Hilt (@ahilt20) June 17, 2019
— Ryan Many (@hearthop67) June 17, 2019
Some users started comparing Cosby to O.J. Simpson, who recently joined Twitter.
Emboldened by OJ
— Dan (Run (It Back) With Us) (@dansbadtweets) June 17, 2019
OJ Simpson joined twitter
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) June 17, 2019
Bill Cosby: Hold my laced beer https://t.co/q4GoK7qpZ4
Bill Cosby & OJ Simpson both are active on Twitter now... if there was ever a time for the Boondocks to give us a new season, it’s now.
— EE »dead« (@ThePhenomenalEE) June 17, 2019
Cosby's comments come after former football star and convicted robber O.J. Simpson joined Twitter on June 15th. In a video he posted Saturday, Simpson said he's got "a little getting even to do."