Her view, her terms. The View's newest co-host Raven-Symone stopped by Us Weekly's headquarters in NYC, on Tuesday, June 16, where she exclusively doled out some advice for Rachel Dolezal, the beleaguered former president of one local NAACP chapter.
"I love her," the former Disney star told Us. "Listen, we can't judge anybody. We don't know that person's life. We're only getting bits and pieces."
Dolezal stepped down from her post as president of the Spokane, Wash., NAACP chapter on Monday, after it was revealed by her parents that she had lied about her ethnicity.
Symone compared Dolezal's current situation to that of another high-profile celebrity. "I agree with Whoopi [Goldberg]," she dished. "It's reminiscent of Caitlyn Jenner and many other transgender people…Hey, do it. I know a lot of people in other cultures want to be in other cultures… straighten their hair… fill in their lips. Everyone's trying to find their way to fit in."
While Dolezal's background is Caucasian, the activist told the Today show on Tuesday that she identifies as black. "This goes back to a very early age with my self-identification with the black experience as a very young child…" she told Matt Lauer. "I would say about 5 years old. I was drawing self-portraits with the brown crayon instead of the peach crayon, and black curly hair, you know. That was how I was portraying myself."
Her parents, Larry and Ruthanne Dolezal, told Us Weekly on Monday that their daughter has cut off all contact with them. "It's a sad situation," her mom told Us. "But in a way it’s best for everyone including Rachel if things are out in the open and people are being honest about what the reality is."
To counter the backlash, Symone jokingly dished some advice for Dolezal. "One thing I would tell Rachel?" the former child star reflected. "Hashtag #TellRachel? Girl, I got a better foundation for you… I know what it's like, I gotta go dark too."
Watch Us Weekly's exclusive video above.
