A new book claims execs digitally slimmed down Raven-Symoné’s body during a body positivity episode of That’s So Raven.
The former Disney Channel star, now 38, rose to fame as Raven Baxter in the early 2000s sitcom. She first landed the role at 15 and stayed for four years until its finale in 2007.
Now, in the newly released “Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire,” by Ashley Spencer, Disney Channel co-producer and writer Dava Savel alleges that the network used CGI to alter Raven’s body.
“Disney Channel was going crazy about it,” she said. “And they handled it in really bad ways. But it was never to her face.
Sources in the book claim that one incident occurred in a season two episode, That’s So Not Raven, in which a slimmer model was chosen to walk in a fashion show over Raven-Symoné’s character.
The episode saw the teenage psychic trying out several diets before realizing she’s perfect just as she is.
In the end, Symoné’walks the runway, sending a message of body positivity.
@holyaep this episode was so sad watching raven try everything to fit into that dress! and love the ending of her choosing to go on the runway anyway!! – #thatssoraven #ravensymone #edit #aftereffects #aeedit #fypシ #foryou #thatssoravenedit #ravensymoné #disneychannel #nostalgia #disneynostalgia #sad ♬ original sound – tyree
Several insiders claim those final scenes were altered to make her appear thinner.
“It was shameful,” producer Michael Feldman shared. “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.”
Disney Channel’s former head of programming, Adam Bonnet, shared that while it wasn’t something he “would have asked for,” he recalls the special effect technique being used later in the sitcom’s run.
“There was some stuff done to make Raven’s [attire] look more flattering in certain scenes,” Bonnett said, referring to an episode where Baxter goes to a dance.
Symoné’would return in Raven’s Home, a spin-off that spanned six seasons from 2017 to 2023.
During her time at the show, the Cheetah Girl’s star admitted she underwent two breast reductions and lipo surgery so people wouldn’t call her fat anymore.
“I had two breast reductions and lipo before I turned 18. There was paperwork involved,” she said.
“My dad suggested strongly that I should get my breasts reduced. “He was like, ‘So you don’t feel bad, is there anything that you want?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, if I get lipo, will people stop calling me fat?’ So I got a twofer. It was just a mess, just being that young and the pain of it all.”
Neither Symoné’ nor Disney Channel have released a statement regarding the book and its statements.
