Raven Symoné opened up like by no means earlier than about one among her early mentors, Invoice 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 trade’s greatest names earlier than being convicted of felony assault, contemplating she starred in his sequence, “The Cosby Present,” on the younger age of three. Cosby’s authorized woes landed him in jail in 2018, the place he served just some 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 delivered to the leisure trade.

Cosby was charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault in opposition to 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 just a few 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 Court docket overturned Cosby’s conviction, ruling {that a} non-prosecution settlement he made with a earlier district legal professional in 2005 ought to’ve prevented him from being charged to start with, finally releasing 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 “maintain that there.”

Alternatively, Symoné believes that people ought to be aware of “what he did” on the “enterprise” aspect as effectively, explaining that Cosby was one of many first entertainers to observe hiring Black crew members behind the scenes.

Whereas Symoné admits that she sees extra individuals of colour on totally different units at this time as a result of trade mandates, she recalled how “vital” it was for her to see individuals who regarded like her “not simply in entrance, however behind the digital camera as effectively” earlier than crediting “Mr. Cosby [for instilling] that in all of us.”

In response to Symoné, Cosby’s insistence on having Black crew members behind the scenes was so significant to her that she advocated for extra variety on her personal exhibits, together with the “That is So Raven” spin-off, “Raven’s Residence.” 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 Residence” aired on TV screens around the globe, the “Cheetah Ladies” star referred to as Disney’s dedication to celebrating variety “vital” for his or her expertise.

“It’s taking what’s taking place in our society proper now and validating it. I’m so completely satisfied 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 variety inside the writers’ room,” she stated. “It’s so vital 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 true 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 all of a sudden in Costa Rica earlier this yr. In response to 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 with the phrases “I really like you” written on it.