Former "Cosby Show" actress Raven-Symoné generated controversy on Monday when she defended former Univision anchor Rodner Figueroa for a racially charged joke he made toward first lady Michelle Obama last week.

Figueroa said that Obama looked like she was in the movie cast of "Planet of the Apes" during a make-up segment on "El Gordo y La Flaca."

The Emmy Award-winning host and presenter was fired by the Spanish-language network for his remarks.

Symoné, who is black, appeared as a guest on the talk show "The View" on Monday where she claimed backlash over Figueroa's remarks were unwarranted.

"I don't think he was saying it racist," Symoné said, and added that some people do look like animals.

"Is that rude? I look like a bird... so can I be mad at somebody that calls me Toucan Sam?" Symoné quipped.

"The View" co-host Rosie Perez insisted it was a racist comment, saying that there is racism against black people in the Hispanic community.

"That's like saying, 'I'm not a racist, but I have black friends," Perez added.

This is not the first time the former Disney star has made remarks on race that raised eyebrows. During an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, the actress rubbed many viewers the wrong way when she rejected cultural labels like "gay" or "African-American."

The backlash was severe, prompting Symoné to issue the response, "I never said I wasn't black."

Figueroa, meanwhile, has issued an official apology to Obama. "I want to clarify that I'm not racist and in no way was my comment directed at you, but rather the work of the [make up] artist, which left much to be desired," Figueroa wrote.

He continued, "I feel embarrassed, I ask for forgiveness, because there is no excuse for a professional like me to make those types of comments that can be interpreted as offensive and racist in a volatile moment that we live in our country. I take full responsibility for the lack of judgement in my part, but I can't accept that I am being called a racist, being fired for that reason and being humiliated by Univision after working there for 17 years."

Despite his apology, Univision has not reinstated Figueroa.