Raven-Symoné, aka Raven Symone, is proud of her Americanism, she was trying to embrace it during a recent interview, but her whole point ended up in a big confusion. The 29-year-old TV star told E! News’ Alicia Quarles that she was from “every continent in Africa except for one” and she is “also from every continent in Europe except for one.” The moment went viral, and the internet has a hard time understanding how can an entirely functional adult with her fortune not know the difference between country and continent.
Raven-Symoné, aka Raven Symone, might be a good actress, but geography is not her forte. The Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper actress sat down with E! News’ Alicia Quarles last week to discuss her recent media outings and work on Fox’s hit show Empire. Raven-Symoné addressed comments she made about First Lady Michelle Obama, when Univision fired host Rodner Figueroa for comparing Obama to a character from the movie, Planet of the Apes.
Figueroa, a controversial TV personality, said on the popular Spanish-language show El Gordo y la Flaca:
“Well, watch out, you know that Michelle Obama looks like she’s from the cast of Planet of the Apes, the movie.”
Many found the remarks very offensive, but Raven-Symoné took a different approach, she half-defended Figueroa by saying that some people do look like animals. To her defense, she made it clear that Obama was not one of them. During an appearance on The View, as the panel was discussing the Figueroa scandal, Raven-Symoné said:
“Michelle, don’t fire me from this right now, but some people look like animals.”
After facing her backlash for the Obama comment, Raven-Symoné then tried to clarify them on social media. She later wrote on Twitter:
“Some comments are rude, some are disrespectful, and some are racist. Try to not exchange one for the other. My opinion/comments arn’t based off race, that doesn’t mean I’m trying to be a different race all together. I love OUR history, family.”
Back to the latest Raven-Symoné fail, Quarles was trying to get her to address the Obama situation, when the State of Georgia star mentioned remarks she made last year about race. In October 2014, Raven-Symoné told Oprah:
“I mean, I don’t know where my roots go to. I don’t know how far back they go… I don’t know what country in Africa I’m from, but I do know that my roots are in Louisiana. I’m an American. And that’s a colorless person.”
The That’s So Raven actress, who is reportedly in a lesbian relationship, but describes herself as bisexual, does not like labels. This is something she made abundantly clear during the chit-chat with Oprah. She stated:
“I don’t want to be labeled ‘gay.’ I want to be labeled ‘a human who loves humans.'”
Raven-Symoné was trying to clarify those remarks, when she ended up telling Quarles:
“I never said I wasn’t black, I said I wasn’t African American – to me that’s a difference. Thank you to ancestry.com for sending me my DNA test. I am from every continent in Africa except for one and I’m also from every continent in Europe except for one.”
She added:
“We are a melting pot of beauty. We have to embrace the different cultures we have. And if you don’t, we’re still gonna have these problems that are blasting up everywhere. And call me hippie, call me a free-thinker, call me someone that’s looking for a better life, but I wanna be in a better world.”
That was enough to set the internet on fire, and some commentators were quick to label Raven-Symoné ignorant.
So Raven Symone don't know the difference from a continent & country… Girl bye , go read a geography book before you speak again!!
— Mahogany (@NaeTheDiva75) March 28, 2015
In the spirit of Raven Symone, I am from every continent in Spain. And Mexico. Maybe some other continent, and all the continents therein.
— Just Ches (@TrulyChes) March 28, 2015
What on earth is Raven Symone even talking about!? :/ :/ :/
— ↓African Pride (@PardonMy_Phresh) March 28, 2015
I'm from the continent in Africa Raven Symone isn't from
— K (@krystledesiree) March 28, 2015
Random: Raven Symone is a sheltered, naive, ignorant, confused woman. Hope she gets her wake-up call soon…blonde hair can't save you.
— ChyleMC (@ChyleMC) March 28, 2015
In defense of Raven-Symoné, it is clear that she was promoting a message of love and tolerance. Additionally, in 2014, while talking to Oprah, she said: “I don’t know what country in Africa I’m from.” Back then, her remark was correct. Her past statement could prove that she just had her words mixed up, this time.
What are your thoughts on Raven-Symoné comments? Is she confused or are the commentators missing the big picture?
