Remove Bill Cosby’s star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame | Opinion

This week, West Hollywood City Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting the permanent removal of President Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. According to their resolution, the reality-TV-star-turned-Commander-in-Chief should lose his place on the famous street for "disturbing treatment of women and other actions that do not meet the shared values of the City of West Hollywood, the region, state, and country."

It should be noted that Trump has never been convicted for any crimes related to sexual misconduct, despite a long history of accusations and lawsuits. Additionally, the final decision-maker, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, has opposed similar concerns raised last November when protesters demanded several other stars, including Kevin Spacey,  be removed during the height of #MeToo, a powerful movement that shed light on instances of sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood and beyond.

But this resolution should serve as a symbolic gesture that time is up for men in the industry who yield their power to victimize others. For decades, either Hollywood turned a blind eye or retaliated against those who spoke out against sexual harassment in the workplace. Now, one of the industry's most prized titles is being held in contention for those who have betrayed the people's trust.

A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a big deal because it publicly serves as the ultimate symbol of fame. To have your name immortalized within the steps of Hollywood is a touchstone of what we consider popular. By continuing to have sexual predators remain honored among more favorable Hollywood icons sends a bad message that celebrity status supersedes sexual misconduct. Hollywood should look more inward at the convicted criminals within their own industry before throwing a stone at the White House.

If Trump's star should go, removing Bill Cosby's star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a no-brainer.

Philadelphia's own TV-dad-turned-sex-offender was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault earlier this year after years of accusations from dozens of women. He will finally be sentenced next month.

An entire generation of black kids grew up seeing the Emmy-winning icon as a prime example of how to garner universal success without losing wholesomeness. Cosby inspired a generation of people, especially black Americans, to imagine themselves in roles on television that weren't stereotyped. We saw ourselves in college, in loving households, and in Coogi sweaters.

Meanwhile, Trump has always been one who has had a penchant for finding himself in scandals long before he entered the Oval Office.

When accusations of Cosby's transgressions grew in recent years, many of us saw our hero become a monster. We felt a betrayal unlike anything we've ever experienced from Hollywood in decades.

For all of the trauma Bill Cosby has afflicted upon countless women and the black community overall, he's not a star worthy of continued celebration on that Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Even though Trump, politically, is a low-hanging fruit that's easier for Hollywood to reject,  it's rather hypocritical for us to not prioritize the dishonoring of a convicted sexual predator before one who's only been accused. Unlike Cosby and former film producer Harvey Weinstein, Trump has yet to face criminal charges for his accusations.  The court of public opinion shouldn't outweigh our legal system in this regard. Let's start with the culprits who should immediately go, and that is ultimately Cosby.

Ernest Owens is an award-winning journalist and CEO of Ernest Media Empire, LLC. @MrErnestOwens.