Raven-Symoné’s career spans almost her entire life, and is filled with memories from countless productions except for one: “The Cosby Show.”
The former child star gained her first taste of stardom at the age of four when she joined the iconic show as the witty toddler Olivia Kendall. Though she spent three years starring alongside Bill Cosby and the rest of the cast, the 35-year-old says her recollection of those moments are almost non-existent aside from “folklore” her parents have shared with her over the years.
“Honestly, I don’t remember. I don’t remember working with — I don’t remember a scene. I don’t remember anything while it’s a rehearsal or a camera,” she explained while filming an episode of TV One’s “UNCENSORED.”
Instead, the former Cheetah Girl said she can only reach into her memory bank to recall the most minuscule details, all of which occurred while she was out of character.
“I remember the smell of the soul food coming out of his [Cosby’s] dressing room…When we open the show in front of a live studio audience you had to walk up these stairs and we came down that classic staircase, I remember standing up there and playing with the wood before I went down,” she recalled.
But everything else falls into a void in her memory. “I do not remember as soon as the camera starts, something clicks off and I do what I’m trained to do.” Having grown up in the spotlight, Raven realized by the ago of 18 that something was off with her ability to recollect her time spent on set.
Through therapy she learned a common disorder was to blame. “It’s disassociation, I just black out,” said the former “The View” host. “I turn into who I’m supposed to be when the camera’s on, and then I come back to when “normal” life resumes. Again, it’s bottled up.”
Her fans weren’t surprised by the revelation, considering that by the age of seven Raven had released a studio album, landed roles on two prominent sitcoms, and regularly worked long hours.
“She needs a biopic! Truly a Goat! She’s always said she doesn’t remember anything but the fact it smelled like cigars”
“This is not okay y’all let’s not normalize this behavior for kids.”
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