Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Bill Cosby's TV son, says allegations are 'painful'

Malcolm-Jamal Warner says it's difficult to see Bill Cosby face allegations of sexual assault.

Warner, who played Cosby's son Theo in the hit 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show, told Billboard magazine the comedian contributed a lot to the black community.

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"The Bill Cosby I know has been great to me and great for a lot of people. What he's done for comedy and television has been legendary and history-making," Warner said. "What he's done for the black community and education has been invaluable. That's the Bill Cosby I know."

'My friend and mentor'

Warner avoided directly addressing the allegations made by at least 15 women, citing a lack of firsthand knowledge.

But he said it's hard to watch Cosby face the allegations.

"Just as it's painful to hear any woman talk about sexual assault, whether true or not, it's just as painful to watch my friend and mentor go through this."

The 77-year-old Cosby hasn't been charged with a crime and through his attorney has denied the claims, some of which date back decades.

The Billboard story on Warner, a Grammy nominee for his work on Robert Glasper's Black Radio 2, was published Wednesday.