Disney Executives Edited Raven-Symoné To Look Thinner

Raven-Symoné is popular for her Disney Channel series That’s So Raven, which often focused on presenting positive messages to young girls. In a newly released book by Ashley Spencer, titled “Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire”, it was revealed that things were not as they appeared on That’s So Raven.

Body Editing

Dava Savel, Disney Channel co-producer and writer claimed in Ashley Spencer’s new book that Disney executives were not happy with Raven-Symoné‘s size. In an episode of That’s So Raven which focused on body positivity, Dava claimed that executives took things into their own hands and edited Raven to look thinner than she actually is.

In the Season 2 episode titled, “That’s So Not Raven,” Raven is shown facing issues around her body. Raven is selected to walk the run way of a fashion show and the model selected was much thinner than Raven’s character Raven Baxter. Raven is shown trying diet methods to lose weight prior to walking in the show. Ultimately Raven’s character decides to embrace herself and walk in the show despite being bigger than the other model. The episode was centered around sending the message of body positivity.

It was during this episode that Disney executives made the decision to edit Raven-Symoné’s body without her consent. During the scene where Raven’s character walks the runway, Dava Savel claims that producers purposefully made Raven look slimmer.

Continuing To Make Raven Thinner

Disney producers did not stop there when editing Raven’s body. Adam Bonnett, Disney Channel’s former head of original programming, said that the special effect technique used to slim down Raven was also used in other episodes. Adam said, “There was some stuff done to make Raven’s attire look more flattering in certain scenes.” Producers at Disney were actively portraying Raven-Symoné’s character Raven Baxter to be thinner than the actress was in real life.

Other former Disney executives had some thoughts on what occurred. Producer Michael Feldman said that what occurred “was shameful,” he continued, “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 executives editing Raven-Symoné to look thinner sends a bad message to girls everywhere trying to embrace body positivity.

Raven On Body Positivity

Raven-Symoné has spoken out about body positivity. She has said that she embraces her body no matter what it looks like. She said “I’ve been every size. I’ve been a 2. And I’ve been an 18 [and a] 14. Each step of the game, I’ve been happy, and I’ve been sad. At my skinniest, I was like, ‘I’m hungry,’. At my biggest, I was like, ‘It doesn’t fit.’ I’ve been all the feelings.” Raven continued  “While I’m learning to love my body, I’m also sharing that love for my body with other people. Hopefully, when they find that love, they encourage me when I see them.” Good for her. Raven is not going to let what Disney executives did to her impact the love she has for herself and the acceptance she has for her body.

What do you think of them changing Raven to look thinner? Show Raven your support in the comments.