Raven-Symoné's body was digitally altered by Disney on "That’s So Raven," new book reveals

The Disney High book highlights the extreme pressures placed on its young stars.

In a shocking revelation, Raven-Symoné’s body was digitally altered to appear thinner during the filming of a That’s So Raven episode centered on body positivity, according to a new book, Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire.

The episode in question, titled "That’s So Not Raven," aired during the second season of the show and focused on Raven's character struggling with her body image after being rejected from a modeling gig for being perceived as "too big." While the episode conveyed a message of self-acceptance, production sources claim that Disney Channel executives instructed visual effects teams to make Raven-Symoné appear thinner in post-production.

Co-producer Dava Savel noted that Disney Channel was particularly concerned with Raven’s fluctuating weight at the time. Producer Michael Feldman called the alterations "shameful," pointing out the irony of altering her appearance in an episode meant to promote body empowerment.

Despite the controversy, Raven-Symoné, who portrayed the teen psychic on the hit Disney show for four seasons, remains an iconic figure for her fans. She reprised her role in the successful spinoff Raven's Home, which ran for six seasons until its cancellation in 2023. The actress has not yet commented on the recent allegations.