CNN Anchor Asks Cosby Accuser Why She Didn’t Just Bite Him

When I interviewed new Bill Cosby accuser Joan Tarshis the other day about her allegations that Cosby sexually assaulted her when she was 19, she told me that Cosby “switched to another orifice” after she told him that she had a vaginal infection. I left it at that. But not CNN anchor Don Lemon.

No, when Lemon got Tarshis on the air on CNN earlier this week, what he wanted to know was, why didn’t Tarshis defend herself with her teeth. Seriously.

Here’s the full exchange:

Don Lemon:
Can I ask you this, because — and please, I don’t mean to be crude. OK?

Joan Tarshis:
Yeah.

Don Lemon:
Because I know some of you — you said this last night, that he — you lied to him and said “I have an infection. And if you rape me, or if you do — if you have intercourse with me, you will probably get it and give it to your wife.”

Joan Tarshis:
Right

Don Lemon:
And you said he made you perform oral sex.

Joan Tarshis:
Right.

Don Lemon:
You — you know, there are ways not to perform oral sex if you didn’t want to do it.

Joan Tarshis:
Oh. Um, I was kind of stoned at the time, and quite honestly, that didn’t even enter my mind. Now I wish it would have.

Don Lemon:
Right. Meaning the using of the teeth, right?

Joan Tarshis:
Yes, that’s what I’m thinking you’re —

Don Lemon:
As a weapon.

Joan Tarshis:
Yeah, I didn’t even think of it.

Don Lemon:
Biting. So, um —

Joan Tarshis:
Ouch.

Don Lemon:
Yes. I had to ask. I mean, it is, yeah.

Joan Tarshis:
Yes. No, it didn’t cross my mind.

Had to ask, Don Lemon? Didn’t mean to be crude? OK.