미국 원로 코미디 스타 빌 코스비(78)로부터 성폭행을 당했다고 주장하는 여성 35명이 잡지의 표지모델로 등장해, 혐의를 부인하는 코스비와의 전면전에 나섰다.

미국 시사주간지 뉴욕매거진은 새로 발간한 27일(현지시간)자에서 서로 비슷한 자세로 의자에 앉아 있는 이들 35명의 흑백사진을 표지에 실었다.

35 women speak about being assaulted by Bill Cosby, and the culture that wouldn't listen: http://t.co/H5dss5F2F4pic.twitter.com/RCF0BWBrxA

— New York Magazine (@NYMag) July 27, 2015

아울러 "코스비가 나를 성폭행했다"고 주장하는 이들과의 인터뷰를 게재하고, 이 중 6명의 인터뷰 동영상은 웹사이트에 올렸다.

20∼80대의 연령인 이들 여성의 직업은 슈퍼모델, 웨이트리스, 언론인 등으로 다양하다. 추가 증언을 기다린다는 의미에서 36번째 의자는 비어 있다.

그동안 이 같은 성폭행 피해를 공개로 주장한 여성은 10여 명에 달했다. 그러나 피해자로 거론되는 전체 46명의 여성 중 35명이 익명을 걷어내고 집단적으로 성폭행 상황을 묘사하는 공개 증언에 나섰다는 점에서 파장이 예상된다.

뉴욕매거진의 웹사이트는 이날 수 시간 동안 다운됐다.

이 잡지는 성폭행 사건의 공개가 '강력한 무기'가 될 수 있다고 말했다.

이 잡지는 "1960년대에 성폭행은 낯선 사람에 의한 폭력으로 여겨졌다"며 "그러나 (요즘) 젊은 여성들 사이에서는 이를 거리끼지 않고 말하는 것이 유일한 길이며, 피해자로서의 입장을 주장하는 것이 그 무엇과도 비길 수 없는 강한 무기라는 공감대가 형성돼 있다"고 보도의 취지를 밝혔다.

Barbara Bowman, 48, an artist and ambassador with PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment), was allegedly assaulted by Bill Cosby from 1985 to 1987. Bowman was a 17-year-old model and an aspiring actress when her agent introduced her to Bill Cosby in Denver in 1985. Cosby offered to mentor Bowman. The comedian flew her to celebrity events and performances across the country. He eventually moved her to New York City and then Long Island, while she took acting classes in the city. In New York, Cosby drugged and raped Bowman repeatedly; she didn’t realize for two years what was happening. "Since 2005, and especially in the last several months, I have changed a lot. I had no idea that we'd now be looking at almost 50 women who are in the same situation, who have stories, who are not being listened to. When I heard the news that Bill Cosby admitted in a deposition that he had gotten quaaludes and drugs to drug young women, it was like 28 years of silence went bye-bye. It's about time that people sat up and listened. With all of the enablers and Cosby defenders in the world, I believe we have turned the page from one chapter to the next." Tap the photo to hear Barbara Bowman tell her story, and watch her video interview at nymag.com/cosby-women. ????: Amanda Demme

A video posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on Jul 27, 2015 at 9:01am PDT

피해 여성 중 한 명인 바바라 보먼(위 음성)은 코스비가 자신을 17살 때부터 2년 간 약을 먹이면서 지속적으로 성폭행했다고 주장하면서 "나는 납치돼 훤히 보이는 곳에 숨어있는 기분이었다"면서 "나 스스로에게 '나는 코스비에 성폭행당한 것'이라고 말하지만, 누가 내 말을 믿겠냐"고 말했다.

Victoria Valentino, 72, a former Playboy bunny, was allegedly assaulted by Bill Cosby in 1969. Valentino was dining with her roommate at their usual joint, Café Figaro, where Cosby happened to be part owner. He knew that Valentino’s 6-year-old son had recently died, and he told Valentino’s friend that he thought she could use some cheering up. "He took my roommate and me out to dinner. It was this new hip steak restaurant on the strip near the Whiskey a Go Go called Sneaky Pete’s. He was chatting her up and trying to charm her. And he reached across and put a pill next to my wine glass and said, ‘Here, this will make you feel better,’ and he gave her one. I wasn’t really thinking. I thought, Great, me feel better? You bet. So I took the pill and washed it down with some red wine. And then he reached across and put another pill in my mouth and gave her one. Just after I took the second pill, my face was, like, face-in-plate syndrome, and I just said, ‘I wanna go home.’ He said he would drive us home. We went up this elevator. I sat down, and lay my head back, just fighting nausea. I looked around and he was sitting next to my roommate on the loveseat with this very predatory look on his face. She was completely unconscious. I could hear the words in my head, but I couldn’t form words with my mouth, because I was so drugged out." Tap the photo to hear Victoria Valentino tell her story, and watch her video interview at nymag.com/cosby-women.

A video posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on Jul 26, 2015 at 6:20pm PDT

1969년 코스비를 처음 알았다는 빅토리아 발렌티노(위 음성)는 코스비가 자신과 친구에게 '기분이 좋아지는 약'을 건넸고 그의 아파트로 데려갔다면서 "그는 바지 지퍼를 내리고 구강성교를 요구했다"고 말했다.

Janice Dickinson, 60, a model, was allegedly assaulted by Bill Cosby in 1982. Cosby invited then-28-year-old Dickinson to Lake Tahoe, saying he had a possible acting opportunity for her. They dined together, and he gave her a pill to take with a glass of wine. "I woke up the next morning, after the incident, with my entire life altered forever, knowing that Bill Cosby had raped me. There was no one there to protect me. I held this inside of my soul for years and years and years. It shouldn't happen to any person, man, woman, or child. The right thing to do is to tell my story, truthfully, the disgusting and humiliating details, blow by blow, that I can share and hopefully stop this man from ever, ever, ever doing it again." Tap the photo to hear Janice Dickinson tell her story, and watch her video interview at nymag.com/cosby-women. ????: Amanda Demme of @janicedickinson

A video posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on Jul 27, 2015 at 9:30am PDT

Louisa Moritz, 68, an actress, was allegedly assaulted by Bill Cosby in 1971. Moritz was getting ready to appear on the 'Tonight Show' when someone opened the door of her dressing room. “He never knocked. I knew it was Mr. Cosby. I'd seen his picture. He walked in and closed the door behind him. It went on for maybe four minutes, five minutes. But it was the longest five minutes that I ever experienced. And when they called my name, he ran out. When he walked down the stage, he introduced himself as Louisa Moritz. And then a huge laugh. When they called me to go onstage, I was a zombie. He didn't look at me while we were on the show. I didn't look at him. I just felt him. I was afraid to tell anybody. I knew who Mr. Cosby was and that prevented me from telling anybody. I felt ashamed. I was embarrassed to be me." Tap the photo to hear Louisa Moritz tell her story, and watch her video interview at nymag.com/cosby-women.

A video posted by New York Magazine (@nymag) on Jul 26, 2015 at 7:26pm PDT

다른 여성들도 인터뷰에서 코스비가 어떤 성적 행위를 했는지를 구체적으로 묘사했다.

코스비는 지난해부터 수십 명의 여성으로부터 성추행을 당했다는 비난과 고소를 당했지만 혐의를 부인했다. 그는 기소되지 않은 상태다.

그러나 성폭행하려는 의도로 필라델피아 템플대 전 직원에게 진정제의 일종인 퀘일루드 3알 반을 줬다고 시인하는 발언이 최근 공개되면서 사건이 새로운 국면을 맞고 있다.

이 직원으로부터 고소를 당한 코스비는 2005년 법정에서 이같이 진술했고, 최근 뉴욕타임스(NYT)는 코스비와 이 여성의 변호인이 주고받은 대화 녹취록 사본을 공개했다.

그러나 코스비 사건의 상당수는 1970∼1980년대에 벌어진 것이어서 공소시효 만료로 처벌되지 않을 가능성도 제기된다.

미국에서는 성폭행 사건에 대한 공소시효를 두지 않은 주(州)도 많지만 조지아·매사추세츠·워싱턴D.C는. 15년, 펜실베이니아는 12년, 캘리포니아·콜로라도·일리노이 등은 10년, 메인은 8년, 미네소타는 3년의 공소시효를 두고 있다.