Bill Cosby Blasted By Former Pal Sidney Poitier

Bill Cosby's plan to bring in showbiz pals for his humiliating rape trial was a big failure — and even his close friend Sidney Poitier is blasting the disgraced comic!

The once-beloved comedian brought "Cosby Show" daughter Keshia Knight Pulliam to his first day to face rape charges from 2004 in Pennsylvania — but he was soon reduced to being escorted by a recurring actress from "NCIS," and obscure comics from Philadelphia. Meanwhile, The National ENQUIRER revealed that his old pal Sidney is furious over Cosby's sick secrets of sexual assault!

The respected Oscar winner is “utterly disgusted” by his former on-screen partner, and “sickened” by the allegations that America’s favorite TV dad systematically fed women date rape drugs, a source close to Sidney told The ENQUIRER. “Look at Sidney Poitier,” explained the insider. "Unblemished, untainted and distinguished. Look at Bill Cosby. Thirty women — they’re not all lying!”

Sidney was first linked to Cosby’s victims when Joan Tarshis – one of the multiple women to have accused Cosby of sexual assault – wrote about her visits to the set of 1969’s “The Bill Cosby Show.” “He once introduced me to Sidney Poitier as ‘Midget,’ his pet name for me because I was 5'3",” she noted – before claiming that she was later drugged and raped by the comic in his nearby bungalow.

Cosby's close friend later teamed up with the comic to direct and co-star in popular ’70s comedies such as “Let’s Do It Again” and “Uptown Saturday Night” – and also directed Cosby in the 1990 flop “Ghost Dad.” Cosby allegedly used that project as an opportunity to assault actress Angela Leslie, luring her into a Las Vegas hotel suite for an “audition.”

Angela turned down a cocktail offered by her host, but claimed she was still attacked by Cosby before being thrown out of the room. “I didn’t drink the alcohol,” said Angela, “and maybe since I didn’t pass out, he decided to get rid of me.”

Sidney was further humiliated to learn that Hollywood wife Cindra Ladd has joined the parade of Cosby’s accusers, claiming the comic drugged and raped her in 1969. Cindra is the longtime wife of film executive and producer Alan Ladd, Jr. – and a proud Sidney presented her husband with the Best Picture Oscar for “Braveheart” in 1996.

“I can tell you that Mr. Poitier is terribly disgusted by what Bill Cosby has done, and he feels sorry for him,” the source told The ENQUIRER. Sidney (seen here with his ex-pal and Harry Belafonte) has always wanted audiences to understand that the moral men he played on screen “weren’t a far cry from the man he is off screen,” the insider explained.

Meanwhile, Cosby’s sordid secrets expose a monster who was once America’s favorite TV dad. “Have you even heard of whispers about Sidney Poitier?” the source added. “He’s dignified, and remains that way – which is why he will say nothing about Cosby.”