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Raven-Symoné Says She Was First Fat-Shamed At 7 While On ‘Cosby Show’

By Courtney Miller
Published on: 09:34 PST, Aug 2, 2015

Raven-Symoné, the former child star of The Cosby Show, now says that the “fat-shaming” that has followed her throughout her career first began while she was working on Cosby as a little girl. The actress talked on Tuesday about the impact that first bit of criticism has had on her career and personal life.

She told her co-hosts on The View this week that the “shaming” began when she just seven-years-old, according to People magazine.

“It was definitely hard. I remember not being able to have [a] bagel or anything,” Raven related. “I remember people would be like, ‘You can’t eat that. You’re getting fat!'” the star said. “I’m like, ‘I’m 7! I’m hungry!'”

Symoné declined to state the name of the person who made comments about her weight while on the set, or whether it was a fellow cast member or someone working in production.

“I’m not going to put them on blast, but that’s what I was told at that young of an age,” she said on The View.

Raven would eventually go on to star in a show of her own, That’s So Raven, on the Disney Channel.

Symoné said that on Raven, she eventually reached one of her heaviest weights and was depressed and self-conscious about her appearance throughout adolescence.

“Even up until I got up to 180 pounds on That’s So Raven, you put nasty stuff in front of me, or you put images of these women that I’ll never aspire to, of course I’m going to get depressed.”

“Maybe I just know how to hide it a little better,” she says of her thoughts about her weight now. “I’m like, my insecurities? Lock them in a closet until I get back home. Put on an extra pile of makeup or a girdle and let’s go.”

Apparently, Symoné isn’t too warped by the harsh criticism that began at so early an age; she has experienced massive success as an actress and will return to Disney to guest star on K.C. Undercover on September 7.

[Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

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