Entertainment
‘Bachelorette’ Alum Speaks Out After Raven-Symoné’s Comment On ‘Blackness’
“Bachelor” alum Rachel Lindsay is speaking out after a clip of Raven-Symoné speaking about her “blackness” went viral. According to a resurfaced clip from Symoné’s podcast, “Tea Time,” the beloved actress spoke with her guest about the “blackness” of her Disney character, Raven Baxter, and challenged listeners to consider whether the character was truly African American. The conversation sparked much backlash, prompting others in the entertainment industry to share their thoughts.
‘Bachelor’ Alum Disheartened Over Raven-Symoné’s Comments About ‘Blackness’
According to The Blast, Symoné, along with her wife, spoke with Kalen Allen about her Disney show, “That’s So Raven.” During the conversation, Allen said Symoné’s character felt “Black as f-ck” to him, causing Symoné to ask follow-up questions. “Why was she Black?” she asked. “Why did she feel Black to you? Take away the color. Make them green, and hear the words. What color are they?”
Lindsay found herself a bit disturbed by the conversation and spoke about the viral clip on her podcast, “Higher Learning.” Not only did Lindsay mention “That’s So Raven” episodes in which the show celebrated Black History Month and other parts of the Black American experience, but she also said Symoné’s comments tie into “to this pattern” of the actress seemingly “reminding people that she’s not that.”
Raven-Symoné Has Been At The Center Of Conversations About Race For Over A Decade Now
you know it’s bad when oprah is telling you to hush 😭 pic.twitter.com/IP753BRm4z
— DE'RON 🌞 (@deronworld) September 2, 2026
This isn’t the first time that Symoné has found herself at the center of difficult conversations about race. During a previous interview with Oprah, the “Cosby Show” actress made headlines when she told the beloved talk-show host she opposed being labeled. “I’m tired of being labeled. I’m an American. I’m not an African American; I’m an American,” she said.
In 2015, Symoné found herself in hot water again when she made comments some viewed as problematic and discriminatory when she was a regular co-host on “The View.” During the episode, Symoné was one of the co-hosts speaking about the 60 most “ghetto names.”
She continued, “And I’m very discriminatory against words like the ones they were saying in those names. I’m not about to hire you if your name is Watermelondrea. It’s just not going to happen. I’m not going to hire you.”
- Disney star Kyla Pratt speaks about the importance of seeing Raven Symoné on TV as a “young Black woman.”
- Raven is returning to Disney to star in The Cheetah Girls 4.
- She sparked backlash earlier this year for leaving Miley Cyrus off of her fictional Mount Rushmore.
- The actress had a special reunion with her “That’s So Raven” co-stars in December 2025.
- Raven spoke about how Bill Cosby changed the entertainment industry.
Former Miss Teen USA Contestant Shares Alleged Interaction With Raven-Symoné
After the podcast clip resurfaced online, social media users shared mixed reactions to her statement.
One of the people who spoke out was a former Miss Teen USA contestant who claimed to have had a weird experience with Symoné in 2001.
Gloria Sophia Almonte wrote on Instagram Threads that following the competition, Symoné allegedly approached her and “was all over me saying how she didn’t vote for the black girl (Miss Missouri, the winner); she voted for me!”
Almonte said she was thrown off at the time, but she didn’t think much of it because of the thrill of competing on live TV.
“Now, I’m like. WTF you mean black girl? Her name is Marissa. Miss Missouri. You had all of our information in front of you prior to the telecast to know who you were getting ready to score and choose, etc. Mind you, I’m Puerto Rican. What is wrong with this woman?” Almonte added.
Symoné And Her Wife Rubbed People The Wrong Way Last Year
According to a previous report from The Blast, Symoné and her wife have been involved in several controversies over the years due to comments made on their podcast.
In August 2025, Symoné and her wife, Miranda Maday, made headlines after the latter told their listeners that she wasn’t with Symoné for her money because she was “richer.”
“It’s something real guttersnipe about Raven’s wife,” someone wrote online, while another questioned, “Is SHE richer or [are] her PARENTS richer? Cause I have no idea who Raven’s [wife] is.”
Maday Clears The Air
Several months later, Maday appeared on Nick Cannon’s podcast to clear the air. She told the “Wild ‘N Out” host that her family invented “mudflaps on trucks,” allowing her to live a very “fortunate” life growing up.
“I share that information to just give more context to why meeting Raven had nothing to do with what was in the bank,” she said, adding that Symoné “is wealthier than I am on my own … because she’s been working for 40 years.”
The ‘Bachelorette’ Alum Speaks Out After Raven-Symoné’s Comment On ‘Blackness’ first appeared on The Blast
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