Cosby Show legacy 'tarnished' by scandal, Malcolm-Jamal Warner says

The Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner says the legacy of the series is "tarnished" by the sexual assault allegations made against Bill Cosby.

"My biggest concern is when it comes to images of people of colour on television and film, no matter what ... negative stereotypes of people of colour, we've always had The Cosby Show to hold up against that. And the fact that we no longer have that, that's the thing that saddens me the most because in a few generations the Huxtables will have been just a fairy tale," said Warner, who starred as Cosby's son, Theo Huxtable, on the long-running NBC sitcom.

Warner said he has been in touch with Cosby, but he would not comment on their conversations.

"I think the things that we discussed really have to stay private between us. But it's just a bad situation all around for him, for his family, the women, their families, the legacy of the show," said Warner during an interview Thursday.

• Lawsuit over alleged Bill Cosby assault at Playboy Mansion to proceed
• Bill Cosby faces new allegations from 3 more women

Warner made the comments while promoting his new album, Selfless. He won his first Grammy earlier this year for his work on Robert Glasper's Jesus Children.

Cosby, 78, admitted having extramarital relationships with several women, including some who now accuse him of sexual assault. He has never been charged with a crime.

He is scheduled to give a deposition Friday in a lawsuit filed by Judy Huth, who alleges that the comedian sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion around 1974, when she was underage.

Cosby's deposition is expected to be sealed for several weeks.