This post contains discussion of sexual assault.
You know Raven-Symoné from a lot of things at this point — and you definitely know that the actor first got her big break playing Olivia Huxtable on The Cosby Show.
You probably also know that The Cosby Show‘s star, actor and comedian Bill Cosby, has faced multiple sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations over the course of his career. He was released from jail in 2021 after serving two years of a three-to-10-year sentence for sexual assault, after a judge cited a “non-prosecution agreement” with accuser Andrea Constand that was intended to prevent charges from being brought upon him.
“He has been accused of some horrific things,” she said. “And that does not excuse, but that’s his personal [life]. So personally, keep that there, and business-wise, know what he did there as well.”
“Like you said, both can live, and I think our culture is right to, you know, don’t do wrong. Don’t do wrong personally. You just can’t do wrong.”
“Separate the creator from the creation…that’s just where I live,” she added, before speaking about Bill’s support of Black actors in front of and behind the camera.
“Now it’s, like, mandated — but back then, especially on a Black show, it was very important to see yourself, not just in front, but behind the camera as well. And Mr. Cosby instilled that in all of us, and I took it to Disney and anywhere I went afterwards.”
You can watch the entire interview here.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.