A surefire way to get hired as a permanent co-host on “The View”? Just create so many controversies during your stint as guest-host that ABC really doesn’t have a choice.
Hey, it worked for Raven-Symoné! The network announced Wednesday that the 29-year-old actress will officially join the show after nearly three dozen guest appearances. During that time, she’s managed to rack up a wealth of headlines with her polarizing opinions about racial and social issues.
More drama means more ratings — and “The View” really needs a win. The daytime chatfest has been in a near-permanent state of turmoil over the last year, with viewership declining after founder and den mother Barbara Walters retired in May 2014. A couple months later, co-hosts Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd got the ax. Producers tried to bring back the reliably anger-inducing Rosie O’Donnell in the fall, but she left soon quickly, citing health issues, amid reports of behind-the-scenes problems.
A former “Cosby Show” kid and teen star of the Disney sitcom “That’s So Raven,” Symoné also broadens the age ranges on the show, which was originally supposed to feature a wide range of demographics. She’s now the token “millennial” alongside moderator Whoopi Goldberg, 59; actress Rosie Perez, 50; and former George W. Bush communications strategist Nicolle Wallace, 43.
And now, Symoné will deploy her devil’s advocate skills and general lack of a filter to try to make even more news. One of her biggest controversies so far: Defending Univision’s Rodner Figueroa, who was fired after he said the first lady looked like part of the “Planet of the Apes” cast.
“Was he saying it racist-like? Because he said that he voted for her later,” Symoné said. “And I don’t think he was saying it racist.”
“That’s like saying, ‘I’m not a racist but I have black friends,’ ” Perez fumed as the conversation continued.
“Don’t fire me for this right now, but some people look like animals,” Symoné added. “Is that rude? I look like a bird. So can I be mad if somebody calls me Toucan Sam?”
On another day, Symoné spoke out against a proposal to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, arguing that Rosa Parks would be more relevant. Naturally, that remark drew a lot of criticism.
Symoné can cause a social media storm even when she doesn’t appear on the show: During an interview with Oprah Winfrey — in which she confirmed she’s in a relationship with model AzMarie Livingston — she said she didn’t want to be labeled “gay” or “African-American.”
“I don’t want to be labeled ‘gay.’ I want to be labeled ‘a human who loves humans,’ ” she said. “I’m tired of being labeled. I’m an American. I’m not an African-American. I’m an American.”
Even Oprah recognized the impact that kind of statement would make (as, of course, it did). “Oh, girl. Don’t set up Twitter on fire,” Oprah responded. “WHAT? Oh, my lord. What did you just say? Stop! Stop! Stop the take right now.”
