cosby was one of the first black people to appear in the united states as an advertising spokesperson. he was known for his appeal to white consumers in the second half of the 20th century, in an industry seen as slow to accept diversity. in spite of making contradictory soft drink pitches and endorsing a disgraced financial company, he continued to be considered effective and believable. in the 1980s, studies found cosby the "most familiar" and "most persuasive" spokesperson, to the point where cosby attributed his wealth to these contracts, as opposed to his television series. however, in 2014, allegations of sexual assault significantly damaged cosby's public image; public opinion polling following the news placed him near the bottom of a list of 3,000 personalities, when rated on trust and effectiveness.