"Raven Baxter >>>> Raven-Symone": Internet calls out Disney star over remarks about braids and discrimination

Well-known singer Raven-Symone is trending on social media after she shared a few remarks during the August 22 episode of Tea Time with Raven and Miranda, a podcast she hosts with her wife Miranda Maday. Symone is known for her work on multiple Disney projects such as That's So Raven and The Cheetah Girls.

While the duo were discussing different topics on the podcast, Symone was questioned about her hair and she added the concept of race as part of discrimination at the workplace as she spoke about it. Symone stated that an individual should have the freedom to try any hairstyle or wear braids irrespective of their skin color. She added:

"I don't think it's fair that we are blocking people from choosing designs that they want on their hair."

Raven-Symone addressed the reasons behind mixing two different concepts and said:

"I'm going back and forth with you (on the overall topic) because Vikings, Chinese, Mongolian…they were doing cornrows. I agree with you, though, that companies should not prevent a certain hairstyle."

A reaction to the clip (Image via Instagram/theshaderoom)

Meanwhile, a clip of the conversation was obtained by The Shade Room and netizens took to the comments section of their Instagram post to share their reactions. The majority of the users alleged that Raven-Symone was disrespecting black culture. One of the users referred to Symone's character in That's So Raven, where she portrays Raven Baxter, and wrote:

"Raven Baxter >>>> Raven-Symone."

Reactions posted by the public (Image via Instagram/theshaderoom)

Reactions posted by the public (Image via Instagram/theshaderoom)

Reactions posted by the public (Image via Instagram/theshaderoom)

Furthermore, the Dr. Dolittle 2 star has also been in the headlines after her comments from a conversation on Oprah Winfrey's show in 2014 went viral. She was heard saying:

"I'm tired of being labelled – I'm an American, I'm not an African American. I'm an American."

The interview video appeared in an episode of Real Time with Bill Maher and the comment sparked controversy on social media. Raven eventually clarified her statement while appearing on her podcast in April this year.

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Raven-Symone explains the comment she made on Oprah Winfrey's show

The 38-year-old's controversial comment was a reply to Oprah Winfrey's question related to her s*xual identity. While she commented, Oprah immediately gave a response by telling Symone not to "set Twitter on fire." As mentioned, Raven-Symone appeared on her podcast in April this year, saying that her comment was not referring to mean that she was not black.

She explained the same by saying:

"When I say that 'African-American' doesn't align with me, that label, it doesn't mean that I'm negating my Blackness or I'm not Black. It means I am from this country. I was born here."

Raven added that she was well aware of where she belonged and how her ancestors managed to create a place where she lived happily without any trouble. She mentioned that there has never been a moment where she visited another country and people called her an African-American. Miranda Maday was also present in the episode and she said:

"I think it makes so much sense, because I don't go around introducing myself as a Welsh American or as an Italian American. My mom was born here, so I'm an American, for all intents and purposes."

The Atlanta, Georgia native has been active as an actress since the 90s when she gained recognition for her performance in the sitcom, The Cosby Show. She has given her voice in various animated films, including Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation, which was released this year.