Entertainment

Raven-Symoné's Been Very Controversial Recently

by Jaclyn Anglis

Raven-Symoné is ready to fill a new seat. The actress, who has been a television star even since she was a child with her part on The Cosby Show, has a new role on TV. Raven-Symoné has been named a permanent co-host on The View. Honestly, the announcement is not all that surprising, but it does have the potential to be controversial.

It had long been rumored that the Disney alum would be offered the position. She's certainly made a fair share of guest co-host appearances on the talk show, weighing in on some of the major news and entertainment stories of the day with Whoopi Goldberg and company. As former moderator Barbara Walters put it, "She is happy, amusing and well-informed, and has already brought a unique perspective to the program that has resonated with our audience."

That being said, Raven-Symoné has also brought a fair share of controversy along with her over the past year or so — and not just on The View. From her infamous comments to Oprah Winfrey about considering herself "colorless" to her public displeasure with the idea of Harriet Tubman being on the $20 bill, it seems like she can't seem to stay out of trouble with her comments.

Put Some Pants On, Beyoncé

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Did no one warn Raven about the BeyHive? The actress stirred the honey pot when she chimed in on Mike Huckabee's criticism of Beyoncé's sexy image on The View, saying, "I just need somebody to put some pants on when people are performing nowadays." Raven said she is not "on" Bey specifically, but female pop stars in general. She then said, "I think there does need to be some class in the female pop world." Sting!

Harriet Tubman $20 Bill

While guest co-hosting on The View, she weighed in on the Women on 20s mission to put a woman on the $20 bill after the organization announced Harriet Tubman was one of the finalists. Raven-Symoné's thoughts? "I don't like it," she said. She explained that she would have chosen Rosa Parks, since she "is closer to the progression that we're doing now." Unsurprisingly, people were not happy.

Defending "Ape" Comments

On The View, the 29-year-old got herself into some hot water when she chimed in with her opinion of a Univision host being fired for saying that First Lady Michelle Obama looked like she was from Planet of the Apes. While many condemned the comments as racist, Raven-Symoné said, "Was he saying it racist-like? Because he said that he voted for her later and I don't think he was saying it racist." She followed up her comments by adding, "Some people look like animals," she said. "I look like a bird! So can I be mad if somebody calls me Toucan Sam?" Obviously, this did not help her case.

Rejecting Race & Sexual Orientation Labels

In perhaps her most infamous controversy, Raven-Symoné told Oprah that she did not want to be labeled as "gay," despite being in a relationship with another woman, or as "African-American," despite having roots in African countries. She upped the ante by calling herself a "colorless person," and as Oprah accurately predicted, Twitter was set on fire.

Slamming Other Child Stars

Though this controversy would be overshadowed by the "colorless" self-description used in the same interview, she did draw a few headlines for throwing some not-so-subtle shade at other child stars who became tabloid fixtures. She said, "It's unnecessary to go to the most popular restaurant in the world when you have a scandal on your head, and then get mad that someone's going to take a picture of you. That's your fault, boo-boo. Stay in the house."

Every Continent In Africa

Raven-Symoné attempted to clarify the comments she made about her race by explaining that she never said she "wasn't black," but that she was trying to say she was not African-American. “Thank you to ancestry.com for sending me my DNA test,” she started. “I am from every continent in Africa except for one and I’m also from every continent in Europe except for one,” she said, without correcting herself. Obviously, this only furthered confusion about her earlier comments, rather than clearing them up.

It will be interesting to see what voice Raven-Symoné will bring as a permanent guest host, and if she will continue to be this controversial. Rest assured, the show will not be boring. Stay tuned.