CW San Francisco

Raven Symone Internet-Shamed For Not Wanting Harriet Tubman On $20 Bill

/ KBCW 44 San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Actress Raven Symone should be used to it by now. The adorable child star from the 'Cosby Show' who grew up via 'That's So Raven' is getting Internet-shamed -- non-stop. This time it's over her remarks about whether to replace Andrew Jackson with 19th-century abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.

"I don't like the idea," she said. "I think we need to move a little more forward... I understand history, I get it -- trust me I was taught, I'm in that culture -- but there was also Wilma Mankiller, Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman. I would have personally chosen Rosa Parks."

Co-host Rosie Perez stonily sat silent as other hosts talked about the need for a woman on American paper currency. When finally asked, she said, she liked Tubman.

Raven-Symoné on Harriet Tubman $20 Bill by The View on YouTube

"She set a precedent, she was was very bold, she risked her life over and over again, with the underground railroad," said Perez. Then, as if to be politic, she added, "I don't care, just as long as it's a woman."

Social media lit up, and has stayed ablaze with Symone's comment and comments about her comment, ever since. One Tweeter even offered to "give her back" Dave Chappelle-style, saying "Black people don't want Raven Symone anymore. Any other races or continents accepting currently???"

It has been only a few months since the Internet Shaming Committee had a field day over Symone's remarks about being black, not African-American. The openly lesbian actress was being interviewed on 'Oprah, Where Are They Now?' when she confessed does not like labels. "I don't want to be labeled gay. I'm an American, I'm not an African-American."

"Oh girl, don't set Twitter on fire," replied Oprah, practically falling out of her chair. Oprah was right.

The reaction was a mixed bag. Some applauded her for not wanting to be labeled, while other said it was naive.

In a later interview, Symone struggled to talk about her African ancestry after getting the results of a DNA test.

"I am from every continent in Africa," she said in an interview, "and I'm from every continent in Europe."

Of course, Africa is a continent -- comprised of countries. So is Europe. Symone obviously meant to say 'country' instead of 'continent', but the Internet Shamers are unforgiving. One tweeter offered to give Symone a World Atlas for Christmas.

Now, there's a meme circulating on Twitter and Instagram with the face of Eddie Murphy that says, "Why do you keep asking Raven Symone questions??"

First published on May 18, 2015 / 3:02 PM PDT

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