Raven-Symoné was only three years old when she was cast on The Cosby Show. Now, over 25 years later, Raven-Symoné has been conflicted about the allegations of rape against Bill Cosby.
For the longest time, Raven-Symoné said nothing about the Cosby scandal. The only time she spoke of it publicly was when rumors surfaced that Bill Cosby may have molested her way back then. Raven-Symoné angrily posted to Instagram:
“I was NOT tak[en] advantage of by Mr. Cosby when I was on the Cosby Show. I was practically a baby on that show and this is truly a disgusting rumor that I want no part of! Everyone on that show treated me with nothing but kindness. Now keep me out of this!”
On the July 7 episode of The View, Raven-Symoné, who is co-host of the show, finally spoke about the Bill Cosby scandal.
“I don’t really like to talk about it that much because he’s the reason I’m on this panel in the first place. He gave me my first job,” Raven-Symoné said. “But at the same time, you need the proof, and then I’ll be able to give my judgment here or there. And now there are real facts. More people can come up.”
I don't care what anyone says, Raven Symone will always be one of my favs
— Ashley Butts (@AshlyNicolButs) July 19, 2015
Raven-Symoné’s co-host on The View, Whoopi Goldberg, staunchly defended Bill Cosby’s right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Now she seems to be backing off that stance, faced with the knowledge that it is conceivable that Cosby’s accusers may not be able to take their allegations to court due to statutes of limitation in the cases.
“That’s a shock to me,” Goldberg said. “Because I always thought that if you could take somebody to court then you could have the accuser say, ‘That’s who did it, this is what it is,’ but you’re saying that all that is left to these women is the court of public opinion.”
Faced with the explanation of statutes of limitation, as well as the damning testimony from Cosby’s now-unearthed deposition in which he admits to buying Quaaludes for sex with women, Goldberg admitted, ” All the evidence out there kind of points to guilt.”
Goldberg another comment at Bill Cosby himself:
“It looks bad, Bill. Either speak up or shut up, because people know now there is a lot more out there than they thought.”
In an upcoming issue of People Magazine, Raven-Symoné still has a wait-and-see attitude.
“Everybody has their opinion on [the scandal],” Raven-Symoné says. “As a co-worker and someone who admires people’s work … I choose my words [carefully]. [But] I’m sure it hasn’t even scratched the surface. So, we will see what happens.”