WATCH: COSBY SHOW CHILD STAR DEFIES LABELS

American former child star Raven-Symoné has controversially told Oprah Winfrey that she refuses to label herself as lesbian or even as African American.

Raven confirmed to the talk show queen that she is “in an amazing, happy relationship with my partner – a woman. I am proud to be what I am and who I am.”

But don’t call her gay, lesbian or bisexual.

“I don’t want to be labelled ‘gay.’ I want to be labelled ‘a human who loves humans,’” Raven said, explaining that she was attracted to both sexes from the age of 12.

The 28-year-old also went on to state that, “I’m not an African-American. I’m an American.”

A shocked Winfrey responded, “Don’t set up Twitter on fire. Oh, my lord. What did you just say?”

Raven explained: “I mean, I don’t know where my roots go to. I don’t know how far back they go… I don’t know what country in Africa I’m from, but I do know that my roots are in Louisiana. I’m an American. And that’s a colourless person.”

Winfrey warned: “You’re going to get a lot of flak for saying you’re not African-American. You know that, right?”

Raven insisted: “I don’t label myself. I have darker skin. I have a nice, interesting grade of hair. I connect with Caucasian. I connect with Asian. I connect with black. I connect with Indian. I connect with each culture.”

“You are a melting pot in one body,” said Winfrey, to which Raven replied: “Aren’t we all? Isn’t that what America’s supposed to be?”

The comments unleashed a fire-storm on social media, with the actress and singer receiving both praise and condemnation.

Raven, who is best known for starring on The Cosby Show as Olivia Kendall, went on to appear in other TV shows and movies as a child and teen star.

Her interview was for Winfrey’s Where Are They Now? show. Watch below.