Raven-Symoné’s body was edited thinner during body empowerment ‘That’s So Raven’ episode, book claims

Raven-Symoné’s body was allegedly edited to appear thinner during a body-empowerment episode of “That’s So Raven.”

Dava Savel, Disney Channel co-producer and writer, made the claims in author Ashley Spencer’s newly released, “Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire.”

Savel shared that show producers were bothered by the then-18-year-old actress’ weight and “handled it in really bad ways. But it was never to her face,” per E! News.

Raven-Symoné, seen here in 2006, was allegedly edited to appear thinner in an episode of “That’s So Raven” about body positivity. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Several insiders talked about the controversial situation in the book, “Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire.” St. Martin's Press

In a Season 2 episode titled, “That’s So Not Raven,” a model was chosen to walk in a fashion show over Raven-Symoné’s character, Raven Baxter, because she was thinner.

The episode shows Raven-Symoné, now 38, trying out several diets in a bid to slim down before ultimately accepting herself.

In the end, she walks the runway after realizing she’s perfect the way she is, sending a message of body positivity.

They claimed a network executive requested the then-child star’s body be slimmed down in the Season 2 episode titled, “That’s So Not Raven.” © DISNEY The episode saw Raven-Symoné’s character, seen here in 2002, be turned down for a fashion show because she wasn’t thin enough. © DISNEY

Several insiders in the book, however, alleged that the show network executive requested Raven-Symoné’s figure be slimmed down by using visual effects for her runway scene.

“It was shameful,” 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.”

The episode also showed the then-teenager’s character, seen here in 2002, attempting to slim down. © DISNEY The actress character, however, later accepted her body and walked in the fashion show anyway. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Adam Bonnett, Disney Channel’s former head of original programming, shared that the special effect technique was later used in other episodes.

“There was some stuff done to make Raven[‘s attire] look more flattering in certain scenes,” Bonnett said, referring to an episode where the teenage psychic goes to a dance.

Reps for Raven-Symoné and Disney weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

Show producers, however, used a special effect to slim down Raven-Symoné’s figure for the impactful scene. Disney via Getty Images The special effect was also used on the “Cheetah Girl” star, seen here in 2023, in later episodes. Instagram/ravensymone

The “Cheetah Girls” actress starred on the sitcom for four seasons from 2003 to 2007.

During her time on the show, Raven-Symoné admitted she underwent a breast reduction and lipo surgery so people would stop calling her fat.

“It was just a mess, just being that young and the pain of it all,” she shared on an episode of “The Best Podcast Ever with Raven and Miranda.”