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!’”
Raven-Symone says she was fat-shamed as a kid: http://t.co/vGMnZcfV53 pic.twitter.com/aFxKI1Vn0w — Us Weekly (@usweekly) July 29, 2015
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 .
Future stage parents, beware – #RavenSymone just shared why children shouldn’t be in show business. http://t.co/PtnyoIG8Ql — Elizabeth Reidenbach (@EReidenbach) July 31, 2015
Raven would eventually go on to star in a show of her own, That’s So Raven, on the Disney Channel .
Raven-Symoné says she was warned against “getting fat” since age 7: http://t.co/R3LrvfuSCb
— E! Online (@eonline) July 29, 2015
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.
We’ve got the scoop on @ravensymone ‘s return to Disney on #KCUndercover ! http://t.co/nvp85TLp65 pic.twitter.com/rPkDKPV2w8
— Just Jared Jr. (@justjaredjr) August 1, 2015
[Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images]
