TV host offers alleged Bill Cosby victim tips on 'how not to get raped'

A CNN presenter provoked anger last night after he appeared to offer tips on how not to get raped in an interview with a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby.

Don Lemon, who presents the CNN Tonight show, was speaking to Joan Tarshis, who alleges that Cosby had raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on him when she was 19.

Can I ask you this, and I don't mean to be crude, OK. Because, and you said this last night, that you lied to him and said you had an infection, and 'if you rape me, or if you do, if you have intercourse with me, then you will probably get it and pass it on to your wife'.

• Lemon

Right.

• Tarshis

And you said he made you perform oral sex.

• Lemon

Right

• Tarshis

You... you know, there are ways not to perform oral sex if you didn't want to do it.

• Lemon

Oh, um, I was kinda stoned at the time and quite honestly that didn't even enter my mind...

• Tarshis

Hmm, yeah.

• Lemon

Now I wish it would have.

• Tarshis

Meaning, the using of the teeth.

• Lemon

Right, yeah that's what I'm thinking you're... yeah. I didn't even think of it.

• Tarshis

Biting...

• Lemon

Ouch.

• Tarshis

I had to ask.

• Lemon

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