'The View' host insists she won't pretend to represent black women

joan

August 21, 2015 9:33 AM

In a 2014 Oprah 'Where Are They Now' interview, former 'Bill Cosby Show star, Raven-Symone refused to identify as gay or African-American, ''I'm not an African American. I'm an American.''

Raven-Symone

In a 2014 Oprah 'Where Are They Now' interview, former 'Bill Cosby Show star, Raven-Symone refused to identify as gay or African-American when Oprah Winfrey asked her about her coming-out experience. She asked to be called "a human who loves humans. I'm tired of being labeled. I'm not an African American. I'm an American,'' she told Winfrey.

After controversy brewed online, Symoné released a statement to E! News: "I never said I wasn't black. I want to make that very clear. I said, 'I am not African American.' I never expected my personal beliefs and comments to spark such emotion in people. I think it is only positive when we can openly discuss race and being labeled in America.''

Fast forward to 2015, the 29-year-old was then asked the one question most of her fans have been searching for answers to, ''Who are you?'' - In a recent interview with VICE's women's channel 'Broadly'. Here's her reponse:

On her Flagrant Commentary

''I’ve been acting in the industry since I was three years [old] and singing and dancing and performing and entertaining everybody else, I was kind of tired of just being that puppet for everyone else.”

Her Child-Star Experience

''I’ll be in a meeting, and my agents and lawyers will be like, ‘Well this is what Raven’s like and this is what Raven’s like.’ Then I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness. I don’t even get to speak?’I learned how to have a conversation obviously because, as a young person in the industry, normally you’re talked about in front of yourself. People don’t really think that being in the acting and TV industry is stressful a lot of times because you only see the glitz and glamour. I’ve been in it since I was three and it is stressful.”

What She Did During Her Acting Hiatus

''[Art] school has really helped me remember that I’m a human. I’m not just a brand. I’m not just someone’s contractual obligation. This is my life, and I want to do something with it.”

Her Reaction To The Public Being Offended By Her

''My opinion is my opinion, and I’m not trying to pretend like repping every single group that you might label me under because I might not have the same views. Hopefully [The View] will help people that are watching me over the years grow up with me in a real-time type of fashion.''

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joan