Former Pudding Pop pitchman Bill Cosby turned 82 on Friday but celebrated it behind bars.
Despite being in prison, he took to releasing a statement to commemorate the occasion, through his social media accounts by quoting the Bible — and urging others to “man up & become men of valor.”
“I would like to thank all of my friends, supporters and family members for wishing me a Happy 82nd Birthday,” the post said.
“Many of my fellow residents ( SCI Phoenix) asked “Mr. Cosby – is there anything special you would like for your birthday?”
“I politely replied that the greatest present for me is: 1 Corinthians 13:11 — When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
The message, which includes a photo of the fallen funnyman, ends with, “To all men… it’s a time to be Great Fathers, Great American Citizens & Great Husbands. Man Up & Become Men of Valor.”
Cosby is serving a three- to ten-year sentence after a jury found him guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in 2004.
He has also been accused of similar behaviour by dozens of other women.
He has appealed the conviction.