Raven-Symone has confirmed 'That's So Raven' producers tried to make her "look thinner" on the show
The former Disney Channel star rose to fame as Raven Baxter in the early 00s sitcom, having first landed the role at 15 and stayed on the show for four years until its end in 2007
19 October 2024
In Ashley Spencer's new book 'Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire', sources claimed show bosses told the visual effects team to make her thinner in the closing scene of an episode about body positivity.
Asked of the claims of CGI were true, Raven told E! News: "I love that you said CGI, this was before CGI! This is where they would take the film stretch it.
"Yeah, there were conversations that I do remember, that would make me look thinner."
The season two episode 'That's So Not Raven' saw another model picked for a runway show over Raven because of her slimmer frame.
The episode saw the character Raven try a range of diets before realising she is perfect jut as she is, and then sending a message of body positivity when she walked the runway at the end.
The 38-year-old actress - who appeared in Demi Lovato's new documentary 'Child Star' reflecting on her own experiences - has now insisted she'd have strict rules about her own future kids following in her footsteps.
She added: "I would never let my child go into the entertainment industry before the age of 17. Enjoy the anonymity first, and take some classes, and then we can get into it."
In the 'Disney High' book, 'That's So Raven' co-producer and writer Savel claimed show bosses handled Raven's fluctuating weight "in really bad ways".
She said: "Disney Channel was going crazy about it. And they handled it in really bad ways. But it was never to her face."
Producer Michael Feldman said: "It was shameful. I don't know how they could look at themselves and do that.
"The very thing that she wanted to do a story about was literally done to her. It's still a shocking thing to me that they were that tone-deaf."
Adam Bonnett, Disney Channel's former head of original programming, insisted while it wasn't something he "would have asked for", he can recall the same technique being used later in the sitcom's run.
Remembering a school dance episode, he added: "There was some stuff done to make Raven['s attire] look more flattering in certain scenes."
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