Acting icon Phylicia Rashad is facing backlash for her tweet in support of Bill Cosby’s conviction being overturned and his subsequent release from prison. After the news was announced Wednesday that Cosby would be freed, Rashad tweeted that a “terrible wrong” had been corrected, and she also called his conviction a “miscarriage of justice.”  

RELATED: Bill Cosby’s Sexual Assault Conviction Overturned After Spending Two Years in Prison 

FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected! pic.twitter.com/NrGUdwr23c

— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021

The actress went on to disable comments on the post, but that did not stop people from reacting negatively to her tweet. Janet Hubert, who played the original Vivian Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, called Rashad out on Twitter, saying, “I don’t know you but to say this was terribly wrong. EVERYONE knew what he was doing back then.”  

Phylicia what are you thinking!!! I don’t know you but to say this was terribly wrong. EVERYONE knew what he was doing back then. How could you NOT! Get your umbrella sista here comes the shit shower. I am outraged that he has been released. Yes he is an old ass guilty man! pic.twitter.com/9mHtuEYLgk

— Janet Hubert (@OGJanetHubert) June 30, 2021

Hours later, she released a follow-up tweet saying she supports survivors of sexual assault and that she did not mean to be insensitive.  

I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth. Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing.

— Phylicia Rashad (@PhyliciaRashad) June 30, 2021

RELATED: Phylicia Rashad named new dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts 

Rashad was recently named the dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts. The school released a statement related to Rashad’s tweet, saying it “lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault.”  

As a @HowardU School of Fine Arts alum, and as a survivor, this tweet from @PhyliciaRashad is disappointing. I hope we can have a dean who believes & respects survivors. Howards students who are survivors, I believe you & here are resources: https://t.co/AedmHaOPxN #HUStands https://t.co/qD4doAncIT

— a Black-passing openly Black Latina. (@aliciasanchez) June 30, 2021

Many current students and alum of the HBCU reacted to Rashad’s support of Cosby on social media.  

pic.twitter.com/UqiGznSkiJ

— Howard University (@HowardU) July 1, 2021

Dean Rashad,

Is this how you’re going to react when a Howard CoFA student tells you they were assaulted by another student if that student happens to be someone you like and admire?

Because what you’re telling Howard women rn is that you don’t care if they’re raped. https://t.co/cD2miBDGXD

— A Shady Dame From Seville (@SorayaMcDonald) June 30, 2021

Howard’s response to Rashad’s tweets did not come as a surprise to some. In 2017, Linda Correia sued Howard University on behalf of six students for failing to respond to their complaints of sexual violence.  

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.