Raven-Symoné knew she was gay from a young age—just 12 years old—but she felt the need to keep it a secret because of her career. She didn’t officially come out until 2013, the same year same-sex marriage was legalized in California. When that landmark moment happened, she celebrated with a tweet, saying, “I can finally get married, yay government! So proud of you.”
In 2016, Raven opened up even more in a video titled It Gets Better Letter. She described how liberating it felt to finally live openly, saying, “I felt like I could go out and not have to put on 17 different hats to be myself. Living my truth meant one less person was fighting me in my own head.” Not long after, Raven met Miranda Maday, and the two tied the knot. But fans aren’t sure everything’s picture-perfect. Some have noticed things in their relationship that make them wonder if Raven’s overlooking a few red flags.
In August 2015, Raven was hosting karaoke at a bar in West Hollywood when she met Miranda, a Los Angeles native. Miranda, who grew up around the entertainment industry thanks to her dad and many friends in the business, already knew who Raven was—and was immediately interested. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Miranda recalled how she felt a spark right away and thought, “This is it. I’m going to marry her.” She kept hearing a voice in her head saying, “I’m going to know Raven. I’m going to know her.”
Raven, on the other hand, admitted she had almost given up on finding a life partner until she met Miranda. They clicked instantly, and just two days later, they went on their first date. They ended up sitting in the car talking for hours, completely lost in each other, until they noticed the sun had come up, and it was suddenly 1 p.m. Miranda described it as “one of those times when you just don’t want the person to leave.” Raven felt at ease, especially because Miranda didn’t treat her like a celebrity. In fact, on the Tamron Hall Show, Raven revealed that Miranda had never even seen an episode of That’s So Raven before they met. Although Raven believed her, some fans were doubtful. One person online joked, “Raven-Symoné’s wife is lying—who hasn’t seen That’s So Raven?”
When the internet buzzed with claims that “Miranda didn’t know who Raven was at all,” Miranda felt she had to set the record straight. She clarified that she was indeed aware of Raven, even if the show That’s So Raven wasn’t on her radar. They started dating but kept their relationship on the down-low. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Miranda shared, “It feels natural and fun, and I feel really lucky to have this experience. But we’re both smart about keeping our private lives private and deciding what we want to share.”
Just two months into their romance, Raven asked Miranda to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Confused by the request, Miranda told People that she didn’t understand why an NDA was necessary and refused to sign it. As a former child star turned adult, Raven had gotten used to having her romantic partners sign NDAs before things got serious. Still, she wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea either, as she felt it might change the dynamic of their relationship. However, her mom and agents pushed her to have the agreement in place to keep their relationship out of the tabloids. Ultimately, Miranda agreed to sign, and Raven admitted, “We both thought it took away the genuineness of it all, but we understood that we live in Hollywood.”
When they discussed Miranda’s hesitance to sign the NDA, some online users interpreted it as a red flag, suggesting Miranda might be an opportunist looking to use Raven for her fame. They warned Raven to be cautious, but nothing could stand in the way of their relationship. In another interview with Entertainment Tonight, Raven reflected on a moment that made her realize Miranda was the one. “I knew you were the love of my life when I was mad at you but still wanted to hug you. I didn’t want to push you away. You can be upset with someone and still not want to cut them off. This is the person for me.”
Raven later opened up about her breakup with Miranda, explaining that she was worried about how the Black community would react to their interracial relationship. In an interview with Noir Online, she talked about feeling uncomfortable with people constantly staring at her, which made her feel judged for who she was dating. She also mentioned that communication issues and Miranda’s work commitments contributed to their split. Given the prevalence of interracial relationships among celebrities, one would think Raven might feel more comfortable loving who she loves. However, some felt her reasons for the breakup were just excuses and that her feelings for Miranda might not have been as strong.
Despite the initial separation, the couple found their way back to each other and got married in 2020 during the pandemic. Raven expressed surprise at the outpouring of support they received, saying, “We weren’t prepared for how fast it took off and how many people showed love. We were not expecting it to be as big as it was for the quarantine life.” They shared their wedding news on Instagram, with Raven posting, “I love you Mrs. Pearman-Maday. Let’s tear this world a new one!”
Once they went public with their relationship, people started pointing out potential red flags. Some comments included, “It’s too late now, y’all! You should have warned about the red flags before they got married.” The couple admitted they often rely on each other for support, almost like therapists, and they also attend couples therapy together every week. Raven revealed that she tends to hold back her feelings until their Saturday sessions. While some might view this as concerning, it makes sense given her struggles with communication. It could be more of a yellow flag, suggesting she just needs a little extra help to express what’s on her mind.
In January 2024, Raven appeared on an interview with Howie Mandel, where Miranda called in and was asked if she ever put menstrual blood in a partner’s pasta. Miranda’s response? “You know, that’s how I got Raven to fall in love with me.” That right there is a major red flag. First off, that kind of magic isn’t meant for you; you clearly don’t know how to wield it. That’s Hoodoo, and it comes from the descendants of the diaspora.
Secondly, we’re fine as long as you treat our people with respect. But when you start pulling stunts like this, we have a real issue, Miranda.
The online reaction was one of disgust and concern, with many wondering why Raven wasn’t taking the situation seriously. After all, using someone’s menstrual fluids in their food without consent—whether it’s for magic or not—is just plain wrong. “Raven’s ancestors are… just don’t even worry about it.”
For those who have been following Raven’s relationship, Miranda’s dabbling in the occult wasn’t exactly shocking. Back in 2020, Raven had said, “I married a gay little witch, and she married a gay little witch.” But let’s be real—Miranda’s version of witchcraft carries a lot of historical weight. Raven, you need to keep an eye on things. Connect with your ancestors; they’re aware of what’s happening, but you’ve got to tap in. If you know, you know.
As 2024 arrived, Miranda continued to face criticism for her comments about not having watched That’s So Raven before meeting her wife. Things escalated so much that both Raven and Miranda decided to take to social media to address the situation directly. In a heartfelt video, Raven asked fans to stop sending death threats and being disrespectful to Miranda. “I’m here with my wife, Miranda, and we want to say: please stop the hate in the comments and those death threats in her DMs. It’s not only disrespectful to her but also to me. Just stop.”
Raven went on to clarify, “This whole thing has spiraled out of control. I want to make it clear that I never said I didn’t know who Raven was. What I meant is that I didn’t watch That’s So Raven while growing up. I didn’t see her shows as a kid, but ever since we got married in 2015, I’ve caught up on so much of her work. I love That’s So Raven and honestly believe she should have won all the Emmys. The negativity I’m facing comes from a misunderstanding that has spread online.”