Raven-Symoné is clearing the air after facing criticism over comments about the racial identity of her iconic Disney Channel character, Raven Baxter, from the hit sitcom That’s So Raven.

During a recent episode of her podcast, Tea Time with Raven & Miranda, the actress reunited with former co-star Kyle Massey, who played her younger brother Cory Baxter, to explain what she meant when she previously questioned whether the fictional Baxter family should be defined primarily by race.

The controversy began during an earlier conversation with comedian Kalen Allen, who described Raven Baxter as being “Black as hell.”

Raven-Symoné questioned why Allen viewed the character that way and suggested that audiences could have imagined the Baxter family as “green,” arguing that the show’s themes extended beyond racial identity.

Her comments sparked criticism from viewers who believed the sitcom’s representation of a Black family was an essential part of its cultural significance.

During the latest podcast episode, Raven-Symoné asked Massey whether he understood the point she had been trying to make.

Massey jokingly admitted that he hadn’t, explaining that Allen’s original comments were intended to celebrate the show’s impact on Black audiences rather than limit its appeal.

Raven-Symoné responded by emphasizing that she never denied the Baxter family’s Black identity. Instead, she wanted to highlight how the sitcom connected with viewers from different cultures and backgrounds.

“You had people from every country watching a Black family, but they saw themselves in that family, which means we were universal,” she explained.

The actress also reflected on her place in television history, emphasizing the significance of being a Black female performer with a television series named after her.

She maintained that recognizing the show’s universal appeal does not diminish the importance of its representation.

The discussion also took a humorous turn when Raven-Symoné’s wife and podcast co-host, Miranda Pearman-Maday, dressed as a green version of Raven Baxter for Halloween, referencing the actress’s earlier comments.

That’s So Raven, which aired on Disney Channel from 2003 to 2007, became one of the network’s most recognizable sitcoms and helped establish Raven-Symoné as a leading television star.

While her original remarks sparked debate, Raven-Symoné says her intention was never to erase the show’s Black identity but to celebrate how its stories resonated with audiences worldwide.