Phylicia Rashad sends letter to Howard University to apologize for defending Bill Cosby By Melissa Roberto article Phylicia Rashad visits SiriusXM Studios on January 13, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) Actress Phylicia Rashad offered a "sincere apology" to Howard University students and parents on Friday after facing backlash for defending Bill Cosby's vacated sexual assault conviction and subsequent prison release. "My remarks were in no way directed towards survivors of sexual assault. I vehemently oppose sexual violence, find no excuse for such behavior, and I know that Howard University has a zero-tolerance policy toward interpersonal violence," Rashad wrote, according to reports.