Raven-Symoné has recently addressed the comment that made her go viral a decade ago.
Now, if you're a fan of pop culture, then you probably remember that one moment in 2014 when Raven-Symoné told Oprah Winfrey that she does not identify as an "African-American" and she purely defines herself as "American."
Watch the clip below:
At the time Winfrey had warned the star, who is best known for her role in Disney Channel's That's So Raven in the early 2000s, that her comment would set social media alight and that's exactly what it did.
Even 10 years down the line, people are still not over it so in a new episode of Tea Time with Raven & Miranda, which she co-hosts with her wife Miranda Pearman-Maday, she cleared up some rumors.
"I wanna talk about something that has haunted me since 2014," she started in Tuesday's episode posted to YouTube. "When that aired, I felt like the entire internet exploded and threw my name in the garbage. There was so much backlash from my community and others that misunderstood, slash didn’t hear the exact words that I said."
She continued: "And the exact words that I said is that 'I’m an American, not an African American.' A lot of people on the internet thought I said that I wasn’t Black, and I never said that.
"There’s a difference between being Black and African," she added.
Her wife then asked her to clarify what that difference meant to her personally.
"When I say that African American does not align with me, that label, it doesn’t mean that I’m negating my Blackness or I’m not Black," she explained. "It means I am from this country, I was born here, my mom, my dad, my great-great-great-great-great – and that’s what I’m saying. The pure logistics of it."
Have a look at the full segment below:
Fans seemed to accept Raven-Symoné's explanation, with many taking to the comments to praise the star for speaking out.
"I understood what she meant the FIRST time she said it," wrote one user. "We ARE American. I’ve noticed that so many other black individuals (especially conservatives ones or those closer to the conservative side) still get SO much backlash for saying this. Love her, love her."
Another also added: "As someone who also got called African-American & had to check the African-American box for most of their life I understand. It just doesn't make sense! I'm glad Raven was able to speak upon this & felt comfortable talking about it. Because everyone completely did her dirty for no reason whatsoever! And it also makes me sad that that was supposed to be her coming out moment & that got taken away from her."
A third also resonated with the idea, writing: "I completely understand what you were saying, Raven. I’m always identified as a Black American. African American suggest I was born on the continent of Africa, had citizenship then moved to America and now have American citizenship. No. I’m an American. Born and Raised in America. If we want to break it down more into logistics, then yea, I’m a Black American because of the color of my skin."
Others also chimed in with this point: "Let’s also remember in that interview? Raven literally ran down her ancestors origin from Africa. She also stated 'I’m black' in that interview as well. People just heard the 'Not African American' part and ran with it. I understood what she was saying the minute she said it. & I was 18 at the time!"
Raven-Symoné has previously addressed how Winfrey had turned the initial interview, which was supposed to be a 'coming out' video, into one of labels - which is something she tries to avoid.
"I said, 'Don’t label me' and it turned into that instead of my coming out," she said.
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