Bill Cosby has broken his silence about the 58 sexual-assault and drugging allegations against him for the first time since the stories came to light and is claiming that racism could be behind the allegations.

He sat down to an interview with XM’s Michael Smerconish (aired Tue morn) and echoed an argument brought to light by his daughter Ensa that“Racism has played a big role [in the allegations]. The accusations against my father have been one-sided from the beginning. I’ve witnessed my father’s reputation and legendary works be dismissed without any proof.”

Cosby told Smerconish, “Could be. Could be,” regarding the theory and that

“There are so many tentacles,

“So many different—‘nefarious’ is a great word, And I just truly believe that some of it may very well be that.”

He also said the timing of the allegations were made to influence public opinion against him.

Listen to a clip from the interview below: