Hugh Hefner: Sexual abuse allegations against longtime friend Bill Cosby are ‘truly saddening’

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FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2008 file photo, Bill Cosby, right, and Playboy impresario Hugh Hefner greet each other at a party to announce the lineup of the 30th annual Playboy Jazz Festival, at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Hefner said in a statement Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 that he considers Cosby, who has faced a flurry of sexual assault allegations in recent weeks, a good friend, and “the mere thought of these allegations is truly saddening.” (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Hugh Hefner says he “would never tolerate” the kind of abusive behaviour Bill Cosby is being accused of.

The Playboy magazine mogul said in a statement Saturday that he considers Cosby a good friend and “the mere thought of these allegations is truly saddening.”

Cosby has faced a flurry of allegations in recent weeks that he sexually assaulted more than a dozen women. One of the accusers, Judy Huth, filed a lawsuit last week claiming the comedian forced her into a sex act at the Playboy mansion when she was 15 years old.

Hefner, who lives at the mansion, said: “I would never tolerate this kind of behaviour, regardless of who was involved.”

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