Raven-Symoné Reveals Why She Chose to Play Her TV Character Straight

Raven-Symoné says that when it came to her new series, "Raven's Home" – a sequel to "That's So Raven", which ran on the Disney channel from 2003-2007 – Disney offered to let the character be LGTBQ+, like the actress herself. But she said no, Deadline reports.

"There was a conversation before the series started, and I was asked the question, 'Would you like Raven Baxter to be a lesbian?'" Symoné said during an appearance on the "Pride" podcast. Symoné appeared on the podcast along with her wife, Miranda Maday, on an episode released Sept. 3.

"And I said no," the actress recounted.

She went on to explain her decision, saying that it "wasn't because I wasn't proud of who I was, or I didn't want to represent the LGBTQ+ community in any way," but out of respect for the character as she was originally established.

"Raven Baxter is Raven Baxter is Raven Baxter," Symoné elaborated, calling the central character of both series "a character that I was proud to play, even if she is straight, cisgender – I don't mind – let her have her moment."

The differentiation was also a matter of helping viewers distinguish the actress from the creation with which she is so closely identified.

"If you ever see me in another character, you see Raven Baxter, and that's just what the deal is," Symoné noted.

But allowing Raven Baxter to branch off in another direction, rather than insisting that the character be LGTBQ+ like Symoné herself, puts a little more cognitive distance between real-life Raven and television Raven.

"And I think the one thing that differentiates me from her is now a lot more," Symoné detailed.

"Raven's Home", which has completed four seasons, premiered in 2017 and streams on the Disney Channel. In the show, Raven Baxter, now a single mother, shares an apartment with her best friend Chelsea, also a single mother. A fifth season for the show has yet to be announced.

To listen to the "Pride" podcast, follow this link.