Why Is Everyone Talking About ‘That’s So Raven’? The Controversy, Explained

Actress Raven-Symoné and her wife, Miranda Pearman-Maday, have landed in some hot water after several clips from previous interviews with the couple recirculated online, prompting a wave of backlash and TikTok discourse. And wow, is there a lot to dig through here. While some fans are upset with Raven-Symoné herself for questioning if Raven Baxter, her generation-defining role in Disney Channel series That’s So Raven, was written as a Black character, others have been criticizing Pearman-Maday for comments she made during a joint interview with her wife on Keke Palmer’s podcast in which she claimed to have “never watched” the show growing up.The ensuing controversy has prompted a whirlwind of response videos and armchair analysis of the situation on social media, making the entire situation hard to track for the uninitiated. Below, we dive into what exactly Raven-Symoné and Pearman-Maday respectively said, and how the current internet reaction came about. Why are some people mad at Raven-Symoné? It’s important to note that many of the currently circulating clips that have generated controversy are not brand-new; indeed, many are months-old.Comedian Kalen Allen appeared on Raven-Symoné and Pearman-Maday’s podcast Tea Time with Raven & Miranda in April 2026 to discuss the legacy of the Disney Channel original series That’s So Raven, which ran from 2003 to 2007. At the time it was released, That’s So Raven made television history. Raven-Symoné became the youngest Black woman to have a show named after her. The impact That’s So Raven had has been praised long after the series ended, particularly for its profound effect on opening doors for television shows centered around Black teenage girls. Many have seen That’s So Raven as a precursor to a wave of television stars like Zendaya, Keke Palmer, and Yara Shahidi. That’s why when Raven questioned if her character, Raven Baxter, was written as an explicitly Black role, Allen expressed confusion.