Raven-Symoné has shared some questionable stances about race in the past, but her most recent comments as a guest on ABC’s The View were even more troubling. The actress and entertainer essentially defended Univision television host Rodner Figueroa after he compared First Lady Michelle Obama to an ape from the film, Planet Of The Apes.
The View co-host Rosie Perez spoke up in detail regarding Figueroa’s comments, which got him canned from his job last week. Perez, a Latino woman, highlighted the close connections Latin Americans and have with African ancestry and saluted those who recognize that root, However, Perez was heated at Figueroa over his comments and deemed them racist to which Raven-Symoné pushed back on.
“But was he saying it ‘racist-like?,” said Raven-Symoné. “Because [the host] did say he voted for [FLOTUS] later and I don’t think he was saying it racist.”
Things got heated from there, with Perez visibly agitated by the conversation. Comedian Michelle Collins somewhat supported Raven-Symoné’s stance, but Perez wouldn’t be deterred from her viewpoint. However, Raven-Symoné’s following quip might have destroyed all credibility.
“Michelle don’t fire me for this,” she said. “But some people look like animals. Is that rude? I look like a bird, so can I be mad at somebody that calls me Toucan Sam?”
Oh boy.
What do you think? Is Raven-Symoné right in defending the Univision talk show host’s comments? Sound off in the comments.
Watch the full The View segment below.
—
Photo: The View/ABC
