Oprah Video Sparks Conservative Fury

Oprah Winfrey is receiving backlash over an interview she conducted more than nine years ago, in which she appeared to be caught off guard as guest Raven-Symoné told her that she doesn't wish to be labeled African-American.

Winfrey sat down with the That's So Raven star to interview her for OWN's Where Are They Now? series, during which the media titan brought up her August 2013 social media post in which she celebrated the legalization of gay marriage, as it meant that she could "finally get married."

After Winfrey asked if the post on Twitter, now X, represented Raven-Symoné "coming out" with regards to her sexuality, the screen star clarified: "That was my way of saying I'm proud of the country. But I will say that I'm in an amazing, happy relationship with my partner, a woman.

"On the other side, my mother and people in my family have taught me to keep my personal life to myself as much as possible. I try my best to hold the fence where I can. But I am proud to be who I am and what I am."

Raven-Symoné went on to tell Winfrey that she realized her sexuality when she was "like 12; I was looking at everything." However, when she was asked if she'd had a word to define herself then, the Cosby Show star said that didn't "need language" to explain who she's attracted to.

When Winfrey asked if Raven-Symoné doesn't "want to be labeled gay," the star confirmed: "I don't want to be labeled gay. I want to be labeled a human who loves humans."

"I'm tired of being labeled," she told Winfrey in the October 2014 interview, before turning the subject to race. "I'm an American; I'm not an African-American. I'm an American."

While processing her statement, Winfrey jokingly yelled: "Oh girl, don't set Twitter on fire! What? Oh my lord! What did you just say? Stop the tape right now!"

Explaining her stance, Raven-Symoné, who laughed along with Winfrey's reaction, said: "I don't know where my roots go to; I don't know how far back they go. I don't know what country in Africa I'm from. But I do know that my roots are in Louisiana. I'm an American, and that's a colorless person, because we're all people. I have lots of things running through my veins."

Winfrey then warned Raven-Symoné that she would likely face "a lot of flak for saying you're not African-American," prompting the actor to explain herself further.

"I don't label myself," she said. "What I really mean by that is I'm an American, that's what I really mean. I have darker skin. I have a nice, interesting grade of hair. I connect with Caucasian. I connect with Asian. I connect with Black. I connect with Indian. I connect with each culture."

"You are a melting pot in one body," Winfrey said with a laugh, prompting Raven-Symoné to respond: "Aren't we all? Isn't that what America's supposed to be? I personally feel that way."

Footage of the exchange received renewed attention this week, when it was shared across X as Raven-Symoné became a trending topic after announcing the death of her brother Blaize Pearman.

A host of X users identifying as conservatives expressed outrage at the clip, as they accused Winfrey of wanting to sow seeds of division with her reaction to Raven-Symone.

Newsweek has contacted a representative of Winfrey via email for comment.

"Why is Oprah Winfrey so uncomfortable with her guest labeling herself as an American?" wrote one who shared a segment of the clip online.

"Raven, I LOVE THIS!! YOU get it!! Sadly, Oprah is in the hate & keep divided groups," another viewer commented.

"Damn skippy," another responded. "Raven is absolutely right. I applaud her for saying it [...]. Oprah tries to make it more controversial than it actually is. She said she is an American. She doesn't need a label. A colorless person. Because we are all people."

"Bravo Raven!" said another. "Anything that puts Oprah in her place is a great thing! But to have Oprah issue a 'threat' that Raven's gonna be attacked sets those wheels in motion."

Adding a different tone to the clip, another wrote: "Did you see her interview with Raven [Symoné]? Raven told her I am American above all else stop with the African-American crap, and Oprah tried to bully her about it. It was hard to watch."

Misrepresenting the exchange further, another stated: "I think the best statement I saw while surfing over the weekend. A short of Raven on Oprah. Well Oprah asked How do you Identify? Raven: As an American, Oprah corrected her & said well African American. Raven NO I'M AMERICAN. Thank You Raven. We are Americans 1st & foremost!"

Amid the criticisms, some X users spoke out in Winfrey's defense, with one writing: "MAGAts are the last people who need to be talking down to Oprah. They are also the last people who need to preach on human decency. You moral dumpster fires need to move along."

"I can't keep up with how quickly you MAGA morons pivot if someone says one thing you agree with," said another. "Next week you will be canceling [the person you agree with] for something."

Criticizing an X user who posted the clip, another commented: "You had to dig back to 2014 to find something to post about Oprah?? What is wrong with you!"

As Winfrey had warned at the time, Raven-Symoné did face criticism for the comments she made about how she identifies, with many taking it as the star denying her race.

Issuing a statement to The Grio in response to the backlash days after the interview aired, Raven-Symoné said: "I never said I wasn't black ... I want to make that very clear. I said, I am not African-American. I never expected my personal beliefs and comments to spark such emotion in people. I think it is only positive when we can openly discuss race and being labeled in America."