Miranda Pearman-Maday is clearing up the confusion surrounding her knowledge of Raven-Symoné’s iconic Disney Channel career after facing online criticism over her admission that she did not regularly watch “That’s So Raven.”
Pearman-Maday addressed the controversy during a recent episode of “Tea Time With Raven & Miranda,” where she spoke with actress Keke Palmer about the backlash that followed an earlier conversation on Palmer’s podcast.
The issue began when Pearman-Maday explained that she was never a dedicated viewer of “That’s So Raven” during its original run. Some fans interpreted the comment as meaning she was unfamiliar with Raven-Symoné or did not understand the cultural impact of the actress’ career.
Pearman-Maday says that was never the case.
“This is where people are getting confused,” she said. “Watching a show is different than knowing someone exists. I just wasn’t running home to sit down to tune in to That’s So Raven. I knew who Raven was.”
She explained that the Disney Channel sitcom was often playing in the background at her childhood home because her younger sister enjoyed it. Pearman-Maday, however, said she personally did not follow the storylines and was never what she described as a “diehard” fan.
That distinction became a major point of discussion as online critics questioned how she could be married to someone whose television career had such a huge impact without having watched the show that made her a household name.
Palmer acknowledged why the reaction was so intense, pointing to Raven-Symoné’s broad reach during the early 2000s. “That’s So Raven” followed Raven Baxter, a teenager with psychic abilities, and became one of Disney Channel’s most successful original series.
The sitcom also became the first Disney Channel original series to reach 100 episodes and eventually spawned projects including “Cory in the House” and “Raven’s Home.”
Raven-Symoné, meanwhile, defended her wife’s perspective and made it clear that being a fan of her celebrity persona is not necessarily what she wants from a romantic partner.
“I have never dated someone who was a fan,” Raven-Symoné said. “So, I will never marry someone who’s a fan.”
The couple married in 2020 and emphasized that their relationship is rooted in their connection with each other rather than Raven-Symoné’s Hollywood résumé.
Pearman-Maday also revealed that she eventually watched “That’s So Raven” in its entirety after they got married, giving her a chance to fully understand the television work that helped define her wife’s early career.
So, no, Pearman-Maday says she wasn’t oblivious to Raven-Symoné’s fame. She simply wasn’t one of the kids racing home to catch Raven Baxter’s latest psychic vision.
