Former Disney star Anneliese van der Pol dropped a bombshell about the original casting idea for That’s So Raven on the Vulnerable Podcast with fellow Disney star Christy Carlson Romano.
On April 24, Anneliese and Christy discussed the “secrets” behind how That’s So Raven came to be. Before she spilled the tea, the singer and actress gave her co-star and Orlando Brown props on the longevity of their careers before the Disney show aired- despite racism almost preventing the gem of a show from happening.
The 38-year-old actress, who portrayed Chelsea– Raven’s best friend and sidekick in the series, divulged that the mega-network didn’t want Raven-Symoné as the lead. It tracks with Disney’s toxic reputation.
“I don’t know if you know this story,” she asked Christy– who said she didn’t.
“When I went in to audition, the show was called Absolutely Psychic,” Anneliese said. “It wasn’t called That’s So Raven at all. At the time, Raven wasn’t the lead. She was the sidekick. They were looking for a lead, and I came in to audition for the lead. I think that was kind of, like, racism at a low level — I guess if that’s even a possibility. They couldn’t really see a Black girl leading a show. They only saw her as a sidekick.”
The story starts at the 5:48 mark.
Anneliese told Christy that Raven’s character was initially named Molly and created for a white girl. The Kim Possible star opined that diversity was the farthest thing from Disney’s mind, stating to Anneliese that they only cared about money and not the importance of representation.
The actress also explained that Raven-Symoné’s nailed her audition, sending the company’s producers into a frenzy to rewrite the entire show with her as the lead character– but the audience loved her. That’s So Raven eventually booted Disney’s top-performing series Lizzie McGuire from its number one spot. The series lasted four seasons (a Disney first) and filmed 100 episodes- 35 more than the network’s previous standard. Raven-Symoné secured licensing for paraphernalia from the show. She was also the first actress to have spin-offs from her original show- Cory’s In The House and Raven’s Home– with Anneliese reprising her role as the star’s goofy bestie Chelsea.
The video quickly went viral on social media, with fans sounding off about the Disney revelation. Fans also expressed how they appreciated how Anneliese kept it a buck about the disturbing information.
I’m actually so glad to see honest and fair conversations without Black people having to be present for it because we already know. Raven Symoné. 👑 https://t.co/LEy23pEMuF
— Ishmael Mayhew (@ishcontent) April 25, 2023
Disney tried to play Raven like she was Luggage. SHE WAS BEYONCE pic.twitter.com/p0vB24DS1B
— Ichigo Niggasake (@SomaKazima) April 25, 2023
She kept it a buck with this…She said it plainly. On the other hand, Disney played in our faces acting like she was the golden girl and they wanted ANOTHER white lead. TSR was Disney's #3 best show in the network's history! pic.twitter.com/KtdCQujJhu
— @KekaAraújo (@KekaAraujo313) April 26, 2023
I know you gotta be f***in lying. They played in Raven Symone’s face pic.twitter.com/uPyAW89jVx
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) April 26, 2023
And I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have watched it if Raven wasn’t the lead. That’s one of my most favorite childhood shows and it just wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t her.
— Goldilocks (@TooPretty06) April 26, 2023
It tracks with the time on Disney. Raven really changed the landscape of that channel. We saw more black leads after her.
— JJ (@JJnpgh) April 26, 2023
One person on Twitter let it be known that That’s So Raven made Disney what it was.
Now if we wanna talk about the true Disney queen it's one Raven-Symoné. pic.twitter.com/rC97MNhOMl
— Rose Nylund, a murderess (@RidetheMaverik) April 26, 2023
The show’s cultural impact and influence also didn’t go unnoticed.
I had to revisit this… My daughter is 21 years old, and I got in my feels thinking about the impact this had on her life. "That's So Raven" helped Black mamas bond with their daughters… Like at our big ages.. we still make references to Devon (who was "Clarence The SO Fine"…
— @KekaAraújo (@KekaAraujo313) April 27, 2023
She paved the way for a barrage of other Black Disney talent like Zendaya, Keke Palmer, Coco Jones, Raven Goodwin and Sidney Parks.
Considering the network hit cable in 1983 and would not have a Black leading cast member until 2001, racism appears to be the driving force in the company’s previous branding.
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