Raven Symone Distinguishes Art from Artist When Discussing Bill Cosby Legacy
Raven-Symoné has publicly shared her thoughts on the contentious heritage of her one-time The Cosby Show colleague, Bill Cosby.
“One must distinguish the individual who creates from the work itself, and that is my perspective,” Symoné, aged 39, stated during the “Hate to Break It to Ya” podcast episode released on Monday, November 3. “The program itself revolutionized both America and television.”
Cosby, now 88, developed his namesake series The Cosby Show in the 1980s, a show that chronicled a fictional African American family in Philadelphia over eight seasons. Symoné achieved widespread recognition through The Cosby Show, appearing in its later seasons as Olivia, Cosby’s character's step-granddaughter.
Many years following the conclusion of The Cosby Show, over 60 women brought allegations of sexual impropriety against the comedian. In 2018, he received a conviction on three counts of aggravated indecent assault, leading to a prison sentence of three to ten years. Following two years of incarceration, Cosby was freed in 2021 after his conviction was reversed upon appeal. (Cosby has consistently asserted his innocence concerning all allegations of misconduct.)
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“He faces accusations of truly dreadful actions, and that offers no justification whatsoever,” Symoné stated. “However, that pertains to his private life. From a personal standpoint, that domain should remain distinct, while from a professional perspective, acknowledge his accomplishments in that area. Both aspects can coexist, and I believe our society is correct in upholding ethical conduct. One simply must not act wrongly.”
Symoné has rarely spoken about the contentious issues surrounding Cosby in the period after The Cosby Show concluded its run in 1992. Her career progressed with the Disney Channel, where she starred in projects such as That’s So Raven, The Cheetah Girls, Kim Possible, among others.
“My entry into the Disney fold happened at age 13 with the film Zenon Girl of the 21st Century,” Symoné recounted on Monday. “What made it particularly noteworthy was that no one at Disney then possessed a professional background comparable to mine before joining the company. I had already featured in two television series, released two music albums, appeared in a film, and engaged in various other projects.”
Symoné explained that she and her management endeavored to maintain clear distinctions between projects controlled by Disney and those owned by her personally.
“The lines delightfully blurred once the character bore my name,” Symoné remembered. “This was extraordinary because such recognition is seldom afforded to women as often as it is to men … yet I was the youngest woman of color to have a television series named after her. As my career progressed, I decided, ‘Let’s continue with Disney. They are excelling.’”
Symoné further pursued her musical endeavors, transitioning to Disney’s record label.
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“My musical path didn't flourish extensively within their framework because I didn't align with certain expectations placed upon me,” she pointed out. “Specifically, the genre of music. I identify more with a Bjork-esque style. … I appreciate unconventional, distinctive material, so my music career didn't quite take off in that environment, and I'm content with that outcome since it allowed me to retain significant authority and direction over my musical work, an opportunity few others truly had then.”
Since then, Symoné has maintained a cordial relationship with Disney management, most recently taking on a starring role and serving as executive producer for a Raven’s Home spin-off series.
“I grasp the ethical standards and brand identity Disney promotes on screen,” Symoné stated. “I am confident that my current podcast with my wife [Miranda Pearman-Maday] doesn't quite align with Disney's typical image, but that represents my private life. One must delineate professional responsibilities from personal matters.”
For those who have experienced sexual assault or know someone who has, support is available by contacting the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
