Raven-Symoné took to Instagram Wednesday in defense of the embattled comedian
At least one of Bill Cosby’s former cast members on The Cosby Show has come to the defense of the 77-year-old comedian in light of allegations that he sexually assaulted women during the height of his stardom.
Raven-Symoné – who played Cosby’s step-granddaughter, Olivia, on the NBC family sitcom that aired from 1989 to 1992 – took to social media Wednesday to dispel any notion that was a victim of her on-screen grandfather.
“I was NOT taking advantage of by Mr. Cosby when I was on the Cosby Show!” she posted on Instagram. “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!”
Raven-Symoné is the first of Cosby’s co-stars to publicly speak in defense of the embattled comedian, who lost an NBC comedy project and a Netflix comedy special over the past 24 hours amid new allegations that he drugged and raped young women while he was a major TV star. He was also dropped as a guest this week on The Late Show with David Letterman.
Cosby is about to lose some residual checks, too. TV Land just made the decision to pull reruns of The Cosby Show, effectively immediately. Marathons of the classic episodes were reportedly planned for the holidays.
In the meantime, another woman has come forward with allegations that Cosby assaulted her. Joan Tarshis first met Cosby in 1969 when she was an aspiring comedy writer and hoped that the comedian would mentor her. Instead, she claims, he plied her with liquor in his studio bungalow and forced her to perform oral sex.
