Debbie Allen calls Raven-Symone a "Heifer"

**mrs.v** · July 17th, 2009, 04:41 PM

Raven-Symone's Disney Costar Calls Her a "Heifer"
Friday July 17, 2009

Beck Starr/Getty Images; Scott Gries/Getty Images

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Raven-Symone -- who has received her share of criticism from online "haters" for her body -- has found a new critic: Her Disney costar.
At a So You Think You Can Dance elimination taping Thursday in Los Angeles, Usmagazine.com caught up with That's So Raven star Debbie Allen and asked her about the upcoming Fame movie, out Sept. 25. (Allen played Lydia Grant in the 1980s series.)
"It's going to energize a whole new generation of young people who were not engaged in Fame the first time around," Allen told Us. "It's so funny we were talking about things coming full circle."
She then told Us she is surprised that kids these days even know who she is. Then, she said, it dawns on her that she stars with tween sensation Symone in That's So Raven.

Said Allen, "I was wondering how they knew me and then they say, 'Do you know Raven?' I'm like, 'Of course, I know that little heifer! I love that girl.'"

In March Symone, 23, spoke with Seventeen at a self esteem workshop. She said she was "thick" ever since she was 9 years old. She said she would have benefited from workshops to cope with "that negative language" and understand that her life is "about me, not about what [people] want me to be."

News - Raven-Symone's Disney Costar Calls Her a "Heifer" | Usmagazine.com

**mrsJB** · July 17th, 2009, 04:54 PM

well, she kinda is.

**msdeb** · July 17th, 2009, 04:58 PM

i doubt Debbie Allen used it in a negative context. Debbie Allen talks 'slang' all the time

**My2Cents** · July 17th, 2009, 04:59 PM

I don't think she meant it as her being a "cow" I call my sister a heifer and she is only 125 lbs.

**Laurent** · July 17th, 2009, 04:59 PM

I think in this particular context, she would've said heifer even if Raven had been thin. It was probably meant to be friendly.

**BITTER** · July 17th, 2009, 05:22 PM

Debbie was just being Debbie.

Now if it were that snotty sister of hers, Phylicia....

**celeb_2006** · July 17th, 2009, 05:35 PM

Come on now, we all know what she meant.

Just waiting for the "I was misquoted/wasn't referring to her weight/ blah blah blah crocodile tears response.

**FierceKiten** · July 17th, 2009, 06:30 PM

Ive often used it to refer to some chick (my sister), but she really was fat.

**LynnieD** · July 17th, 2009, 06:39 PM

Meh, she was just blabbing....whatever.

**sluce** · July 17th, 2009, 06:40 PM

I think Debbie could have made a much better choice here. I am sure even if it was meant with love it will hurt Raven. Debbie may want to take a look at her sister when she talks about heifers. She has had times where she very big.

**RevellingInSane** · July 17th, 2009, 08:18 PM

From the context, it seems the term was more a term of endearment as opposed to the negative connotation.

**Queen Mab** · July 17th, 2009, 08:24 PM

These people need to leave Raven alone. She's thick, she's thick and she seems like she's okay with it. Not everyone has to be curvy or stick-thin. You can't make the whole world the same shape. That's too uninteresting and difficult.

**DolceVita** · July 17th, 2009, 08:30 PM

If she continues putting weight on she will make it harder for herself , I speak from experience. I'm tired of the cliche that it is ok for black women to be obese , it isn't and ffects your health in the long run.

Not sure i'd want to work with someone who slagged me off in public , it's disrespectful.

**mamaste** · July 17th, 2009, 09:02 PM

It's an old ass slang expression. I have heard it used since I was a child. It's not meant to be offensive. It's kind of like calling your friends "bitches" in a friendly way.