#MeToo trends again on Twitter after Bill Cosby’s surprise release from prison

Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction has been overturned, and the American comedian is set to be released from prison today.

The 83-year-old was in the midst of serving three to 10 years in state prison for drugging and sexually assaulting Temple University Andrea Constand in Cosby’s private home 2004. Cosby was found guilty and sentenced in 2018.

Cosby has continually been accused of doing the same by dozens of other women on top of Constant, but over the course of several decades. The first record of allegations started in the in the mid 1960s, for example, rendering many of them futile in the court of law as they fell outside the statute of limitations.

But still, he was serving his sentence — for a time. Until today, when, in an unexpected turn of events, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby’s sexual assault conviction, allowing for the former actor’s release shortly thereafter. Cosby was just two years into his sentence, the minimum of which was supposed to be three, when the announcement was made.

“Cosby’s convictions and judgment of sentence are vacated and he is discharged,” , a spokesperson for Pennsylvania Supreme Court told CNN.

“We believe that he will be released from prison this afternoon,” Cosby’s lawyer added.

The news of Cosby’s imminent release has sparked outrage on social media, prompting a resurgence of the “#MeToo” hashtag first made popular in 2017 when the extent of the allegations against Cosby truly came to light.

Sexual assault survivors and their allies are especially unsettled, and disappointed, by the news. Many are addressing the irony that Cosby’s conviction was one of the only major convictions that came out of the movement — yet still meant nothing in the long run.

Others are pointing out the obvious: This is the exact reason why so few survivors come forward.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can seek help by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or if int he UK, The Survivors Trust at 08088 010818.

For more resources on sexual assault, visit RAINN.