Raven-Symoné most certainly didn't see this one coming.
Last week, Univision talk show host and fashion commentator Rodner Figueroa was fired by the company after making an on-air joke comparing First Lady Michelle Obama to an ape from "Planet Of The Apes." Soon after he was fired, Figueroa issued an apology to the first lady and said that he's not racist.
"I want to clarify that I’m not racist and in no way was my comment directed at you, but rather the work of the [makeup] artist, which left much to be desired," he said in an open letter to Obama. "I've been an activist for causes in favour of minorities, as I have been discriminated against," Figueroa wrote.
He also made clear that one of his parents is black, and he made it clear that he is gay.
It seems Figueroa has an unlikely ally: former child star Raven-Symoné, who guest-hosted on "The View" and shared her thoughts on the situation. (Co-host Rosie Perez, a self-identified Latina, was not in agreement with Symone.)
"There is a secret in the Latin community, specifically the Caribbean, South American, Central American Latin community. They are very racist. They never want to be in the same group as black people. And he did say Michelle Obama looked like a cast member of the 'Planet Of The Apes,'" Perez said.
"But was he saying it racist-like? Because he said he voted for her later. And I don’t think he was saying it racist," Symone said.
"Oh, I’m not racist. I have black friends," joked Perez.
"Not Michelle Obama. Michelle, don’t fire me from this right now, but some people do look like animals," replied Symone. "So can I be mad if someone called me Toucan Sam?" Symone said.
(Watch the video conversation above, at about the 8:00 mark.)
