Judd Apatow, Norm MacDonald, accusers slam Phylicia Rashad's defense of Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby's former TV wife, Phylicia Rashad, has provoked outrage on social media after her defense of the scandal-plagued comedian, with "Knocked Up" director Judd Apatow and others taking her to task.

Rashad went on the offensive against Cosby's accusers during an interview with Showbiz 411's Roger Friedman.

Also Read: Phylicia Rashad Defends Bill Cosby, Blasts His Accusers: 'What You're Seeing Is the Destruction of a Legacy'

"Forget these women," Rashad told Friedman in a story published Tuesday night. "What you're seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it's orchestrated."

Tweeting to @TheWrap, Apatow posed the question, "Phylicia- how many women need to be raped before you realize he destroyed his own legacy? 40? 50?" The "Trainwreck" director followed, "For me it's one."

That touched off a vigorous exchange between Apatow with comedians Norm MacDonald and Tom Arnold, the latter responding, "good for you Judd. Balls." MacDonald expressed concerns over retaliation by Cosby, tweeting, "I hope Mr. Cosby doesn't hurt Judd's career."

In another tweet, to TheWrap CEO and Editor in Chief Sharon Waxman, Apatow accused Rashad of being financially motivated in her defense of Cosby. "She is worried about her SAG residuals disappearing if they are heard in court. Shameful," Apatow wrote late Tuesday.

One of Cosby's accusers, former Playboy bunny Sarita Butterfield, also weighed in on Rashad's defense of her television husband, telling TMZ, "What if something like this happened to her daughter? Shame on her and shame on Bill."

A second accuser, Angela Leslie, told the website that she found Rashad's comments "sad."

"I looked at her as a woman with morals, and it's sad that she's speaking like this," Leslie said.