I still love The Cosby Show despite what Bill Cosby has done. Personally, I choose to separate Bill Cosby from Cliff Huxtable. For me, they are two entirely different people, as opposite as they could possibly be. I simply cannot reconcile the idea that they are one and the same, so I choose to think of them as if they existed in two parallel universes.

This mental separation is made easier for me due to the fact that I am Italian, and in the Italian-dubbed version of The Cosby Show, Cliff Huxtable is voiced by Ferruccio Amendola. His voice creates a sort of barrier between the real-life Bill Cosby and the fictional Cliff Huxtable. Another thing that helps me separate them is the fact that the name of the show in Italian is completely different. In Italian, the family’s name is not Huxtable, but Robinson. Therefore, the show is called The Robinsons, which means that the name “Cosby” is not even present in the title. It is as if Bill Cosby does not exist in the show at all, and this helps me a lot.

I understand that not everyone is able to separate the art from the artist, and I respect that. However, for me, the voice of Ferruccio Amendola in the Italian dub provides just enough distance to allow me to continue enjoying The Cosby Show for what it meant to me growing up, without the constant reminder of the real-life issues. In my experience, Cliff Huxtable speaks with Amendola’s voice and the name of the family is Robinson. These differences help me maintain a clear distinction between the fictional loving father and the real-life serial rapist, allowing me to continue appreciating the show without feeling conflicted.