On Monday, Bill Cosby — or more likely one of his representatives — posted a tweet asking fans to meme him. The link led to a meme generator on billcosby.com.
Go ahead. Meme me! http://t.co/uM3KSji8or #CosbyMeme
Right away, Twitter users began subverting the meme generator to comment on the 2006 rape allegations against Cosby. (He has never been charged with sexual assault.)
.@BillCosby This is fun! #CosbyMeme
The accusations have re-emerged in the past year after NBC announced it was developing a sitcom with him, a recent biography of Cosby opted not to report on the allegations, and Hannibal Buress called Cosby a "rapist" during his comedy act.
Don't mind if I do... #CosbyMeme
Cosby's publicist did not respond to a request for a comment from BuzzFeed News.
Jesus! RT @irathethird: #CosbyMeme
Monday night, the meme generator was removed from Cosby's website, and his tweet soliciting the fan interactivity disappeared. Cosby's publicist did not respond to another request to comment.
Here are a few of Twitter's offerings that illustrate the PR disaster.
RT @DadSelfie: Here you go @BillCosby! #CosbyMeme
Oh man, these are making my day! #CosbyMeme
How's this, did I do this right? RT @BillCosby: Go ahead. Meme me! #CosbyMeme
AYO BILL RT @BillCosby: Go ahead. Meme me! http://t.co/TzrXGcQ6Zf #CosbyMeme
Be Careful what you wish for. #CosbyMeme
#CosbyMeme
I could do this all day. #CosbyMeme #cosbyproblems
Ohhh...#Cosbymeme is all "we'll email you when it's approved" ..they ain't stupid..but screenshots
Someone really thought #COSBYMEME was a good idea?
@BillCosby #CosbyMeme