Raven-Symone has dropped herself right in it.
The Empire actor and former Cheetah Girl is now backpeddaling after she came out in support of Univision host Rodner Figueroa, who was sacked after making a crack about Michelle Obama looking like a big ape.
Appearing as a guest host on The View on Monday, Symone managed to defend the indefensible when she argued that Figueroa had a valid point, and said “some people look like animals.”
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Figueroa was dismissed from his position on El Gordo y la Flaca after he said the First Lady “looks like she’s from the cast of Planet of the Apes, the movie.” When his fellow hosts confronted him, he was unrepentant, saying: “But it is true.”
As the backlash against him swelled, Figueroa issued an apology letter stating that he was “not racist in any way.” His act of contrition didn’t win over his employers.
Actor and View co-host Rosie Perez led the conversation on Figueroa’s comments. “A lot of Latin people recognize the fact that we do have African blood in us. A lot of them do not want to recognize that fact, and that’s where this stems from,” she said on Monday’s show. “There is a secret in the Latin community, specifically the Caribbean, South American, Central American, Latin community, that they are very racist,” she added. “They never want to be in the same group as black people. And it’s sad. It’s very, very sad. And he did say Michelle Obama looks like a cast member of the Planet of the Apes.”
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Symone stepped in: “Was he saying it racist-like? Because, he said that he voted for her later and I don’t think he was saying it racist.” Perez was gobsmacked. “Oh, please! That’s like saying ‘I’m not a racist, I have black friends.’ I’m sorry, that’s racist.”
After some back and forth with the hosts, Symone dropped a clanger when she said, “Michelle, don’t fire me from this right now, but some people look like animals. Is that rude? I look like a bird! So can I be mad if somebody calls me Toucan Sam?” Whoopi Goldberg interjected, “I’d be mad if someone called you Toucan Sam. C’mon.” It all happens in the clip below from 8:40 mins. Symone has since taken to Twitter to try explain her comments — and quell the mounting backlash. “Some comments are rude, some are disrespectful, and some are racist. Try to not exchange one for the other,” she tweeted. She followed up with: “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….” She sounded off with “We have Irish Culture, African Culture, Asian Culture, Indian Culture Many more running through the veins of AMERICA! Come on yung peeps.”
Some comments are rude, some are disrespectful, and some are racist. Try to not exchange one for the other.
— Raven-Symonè (@MissRavenSymone) March 18, 2015
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….
— Raven-Symonè (@MissRavenSymone) March 18, 2015
We have Irish Culture, African Culture, Asian Culture, Indian Culture Many more running through the veins of AMERICA! Come on yung peeps
— Raven-Symonè (@MissRavenSymone) March 18, 2015