Bill Cosby’s wife Camille has defended her husband as “kind” and “generous”. Picture: P Source: AP

In a scathing statement, Camille Cosby questioned the honesty of the nearly two dozen women who have accused her husband of sexually assaulting them.

She attacked the media’s coverage of the controversy and compared her 77-year-old husband’s case to the recent Rolling Stone article about the alleged gang rape of a University of Virginia student, which has been criticised and retracted for its lack of veracity.

Standing by her man ... Camille Cosby with her husband Bill Cosby in 1965. Picture: AP Source: AP

“I met my husband, Bill Cosby, in 1963, and we were marred in 1964. The man I met, and fell in love with, and whom I continue to love, is the man you all knew through his work,” Camille Cosby said in the statement. “He is a kind man, a generous man, a funny man, and a wonderful husband, father and friend. He is the man you thought you knew.”

Camille Cosby said appeared to be “no vetting of my husband’s accusers before stories are published or aired.”

Camille Cosby questioned the honesty of her husband’s “accusers” in a scathing statement. Picture: AP Source: AP

“We all followed the story of the article in the Rolling Stone concerning allegations of rape at the University of Virginia,” Camille Cosby wrote.

“The story was heartbreaking, but ultimately appears to be proven untrue. Many in the media were quick to link that to stories about my husband — until that story unwound.

“None of us will ever want to be in the position of attacking a victim. But the question should be asked — who is the victim?”

Broken silence ... Bill Cosby and his wife have spoken of the rape allegations for the first time this week. Picture: AP Source: AP

Camille Cosby’s statement came after Cosby broke his silence, albeit briefly, to lecture the media on remaining “neutral” and to say that his wife is standing by him.

Reached at his Massachusetts home, the star declined to address the rape and sex abuse allegations from an ever-growing list of women that now includes supermodel Beverly Johnson.

Instead, Cosby said that the African American media — for which this reporter often writes — should be impartial.

“Let me say this. I only expect the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism and when you do that you have to go in with a neutral mind,” Cosby said.

Coming forward ... Beverly Johnson, who was the first African American supermodel, says Bill Cosby drugged her in the 1980s. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

The comedian, who is being represented by attorneys Martin Singer and John Schmitt, said he has been advised not to talk to reporters about the ongoing allegations.

More than two dozen women have publicly claimed that the Fat Albert creator drugged and raped them.

The allegations span at least four decades, beginning in the 1960s.

Johnson, who auditioned for The Cosby Show in the 1980s, alleges that Cosby put drugs in her cappuccino after he invited her to his New York brownstone to rehearse lines for an episode on his hit NBC television show. While Johnson didn’t accuse Cosby of rape, she said she didn’t know what his intentions were after spiking her drink.

over two dozen women have accused Bill Cosby of drugging and raping them. Picture: AP Source: AP

He did, however, wax poetic when asked how his wife was holding up under the strain of the allegations.

“Love and the strength of womanhood,” he said. “Let me say it again, love and the strength of womanhood. And, you could reverse it, the strength of womanhood and love.”

Then Cosby cut off the conversation.

“They don’t want me talking to the media,” he said.