Raven Symoné Shares How Bill Cosby Impacted The Entertainment Industry

Raven Symoné opened up like by no means earlier than about considered one of her early mentors, Bill Cosby, throughout a current episode of the “Hate to Break It to Ya” podcast. Symoné, 39, has a very attention-grabbing connection to Cosby, beforehand one of many business’s greatest names earlier than being convicted of felony assault, contemplating she starred in his collection, “The Cosby Present,” on the younger age of three. Cosby’s authorized woes landed him in jail in 2018, the place he served only a few years earlier than his launch. Whereas Symoné briefly shared her ideas on the 88-year-old’s private struggles throughout her most up-to-date interview, she spent nearly all of her time boasting in regards to the change Cosby dropped at the leisure business.

Cosby was charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault towards Andrea Constand in 2015, stemming from an incident that occurred in 2004. The actor, who many as soon as known as “America’s Dad,” went to trial a number of years later, which concluded in a mistrial.

In 2018, the actor was retried and located responsible on all three counts and later sentenced to 3 to 10 years in state jail.

In 2021, nevertheless, the Pennsylvania Supreme Courtroom overturned Cosby’s conviction, ruling {that a} non-prosecution settlement he made with a earlier district lawyer in 2005 ought to’ve prevented him from being charged to start with, ultimately liberating him after three years.

Symoné acknowledged the seriousness of Cosby’s authorized woes in the course of the “Hate to Break It to Ya” podcast, admitting he is been “accused of some horrific issues.” For Symoné, although, she made clear that what occurred is “his private life,” urging the general public to “hold that there.”

Then again, Symoné believes that people needs to be acquainted with “what he did” on the “enterprise” facet as nicely, explaining that Cosby was one of many first entertainers to apply hiring Black crew members behind the scenes.

Whereas Symoné admits that she sees extra individuals of colour on completely different units right this moment as a result of business mandates, she recalled how “necessary” it was for her to see individuals who seemed like her “not simply in entrance, however behind the digicam as nicely” earlier than crediting “Mr. Cosby [for instilling] that in all of us.”

In keeping with Symoné, Cosby’s insistence on having Black crew members behind the scenes was so significant to her that she advocated for extra range on her personal reveals, together with the “That is So Raven” spin-off, “Raven’s Dwelling.” She stated, “I took it to Disney and I took it to anyplace I went afterwards, even when it wasn’t the norm.”

“I used to be like, ‘No, I’ve to have the ability to see myself.’ As a result of if I don’t ask for it, who will?” she continued.

And in a 2022 interview, earlier than season 5 of “Raven’s Dwelling” aired on TV screens around the globe, the “Cheetah Women” star referred to as Disney’s dedication to celebrating range “necessary” for his or her expertise.

“It’s taking what’s taking place in our society proper now and validating it. I’m so blissful and proud and humbled to be a part of the channel, however I’m additionally humbled simply to be a part of our present, as a result of we, too, are bringing that range throughout the writers’ room,” she stated. “It’s so necessary as a result of that’s our world. You can not shut your eyes to it, and we not will. To have the ability to give that in a constructive gentle and actually present what society is correct now can solely additional respect and kindness sooner or later.”

One other “Cosby Present” forged member whom Symoné opened up about in 2025 is Malcolm Jamal Warner, the fun-loving Theo Huxtable on the ’80s sitcom, who handed away instantly in Costa Rica earlier this yr. In keeping with a earlier report from The Blast, the actor, 54, died by asphyxia after drowning in July.

Symoné addressed the heartbreaking incident with a video on Instagram that confirmed solely a black display screen with the phrases “I really like you” written on it.