TV network bosses respond to Raven Symone petition

Bosses at the ABC network have responded to a petition calling for co-host Raven Symone to be fired from The View.

A Change.org petition titled Petition to Remove Raven Symone from The View calls on host Barbara Walters to have the former Cosby Show child star fired after her recent controversial comments.

Started by Che Scott-Heron from the U.K., the petition had already gained 124,245 supporters as of Sunday (01Nov15).

Scott-Heron cites Raven's comments on ghetto names, reverse racism, and her opinion on the recent viral video of a police officer apparently assaulting a school student as reasons for her to be booted off the topical talk show.

The petition reads, "Raven Symone has been spouting her ignorant and self hating spiel on the view for Long enough, from stating that she wouldn't hire somebody for having a ghetto name, to openly complaining about reverse racism, the final straw was her comment about the recent viral video of the school police officer assaulting the student, where Raven Symone said 'get off your phone in school then'.

"African Americans and black people around the diaspora need a voice representative of their views and not a voice representative of what white people want us to say. We need strong black role models in prominent positions on television an (sic) Raven Symone cannot provide that. That is why I ask that we petition to remove her from The View."

On Saturday (31Oct15), an ABC spokesperson issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that reads: "We love Raven. She is confident, genuine and opinionated, all qualities that make her a great addition to the panel."