Raven-Symoné Addresses Bill Cosby’s Legacy: “Separate the Creator from the Creation”

Actress and former child star Raven-Symoné has spoken publicly about Bill Cosby’s complicated legacy, saying she chooses to separate his artistic contributions from the serious allegations against him.

During an appearance on Hate to Break It to Ya with Jamie Kennedy, the 39-year-old reflected on her time working with Cosby on The Cosby Show, where she played Olivia Kendall from 1989 to 1992. While acknowledging the gravity of the sexual assault accusations against him, she maintained that his work profoundly changed American television.

“Separate the creator from the creation,” Raven said. “You have to, because the creation changed America, changed television.”

She credited The Cosby Show which ran from 1984 to 1992 with redefining how Black families were represented on screen. “He also 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 then business-wise, know what he did there, as well, and both can live.”

Cosby, accused of sexual misconduct by more than 60 women, was convicted in 2018 of aggravated indecent assault but released in 2021 after his conviction was overturned on procedural grounds. He was later found liable in a 2022 civil case for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, with damages set at $500,000.

Raven-Symoné also reflected on Cosby’s influence behind the scenes, noting that he prioritized hiring Black crew members at a time when representation off-camera was rare. “Back then, especially on a Black show, it was very important to see yourself not just in front but behind the camera,” she said. “Mr. Cosby instilled that in all of us.”

She added that she has carried that principle into her own career: “I took it to Disney and everywhere I went afterwards. I was like, ‘No, I have to be able to see myself. Because if I don’t ask for it, who will?’”

Raven’s comments highlight the ongoing debate in the entertainment industry about whether and how to reconcile an artist’s cultural impact with their personal misconduct.