Gabourey Sidibe recently confronted Raven-Symoné during a candid podcast appearance, addressing years of perceived hostility and rumors that the former Disney Channel star had actively avoided her.
The tense but revealing exchange occurred on “Tea Time with Raven & Miranda,” where Sidibe admitted she had long believed the “That’s So Raven” actress disliked her. Sidibe, known for her breakout role in the 2009 film “Precious,” did not mince words when describing their past interactions.
She recalled a dinner in Chicago during their time working on the television series “Empire” where she felt Raven-Symoné was “put off” by her presence. More shockingly, Sidibe claimed mutual acquaintances told her that Raven-Symoné had instructed others not to befriend her. “I was told that you made some people promise to not be friends with me,” Sidibe said during the interview.
While Raven-Symoné did not confirm that she policed other people’s social circles, she admitted to maintaining a cold distance. Her wife and co-host, Miranda Maday, acknowledged that the actress could sometimes come across as “petty” or “mean,” though she doubted the claims of orchestrated blackballing. Raven-Symoné eventually offered a deeper explanation for the friction, citing personal insecurities and professional jealousy.
She revealed that Sidibe’s rapid ascent in Hollywood caused internal conflict because the industry appeared to embrace Sidibe’s body type while having spent years rejecting Raven-Symoné for hers. The actress noted that designers frequently refused to dress her and that she carried a “chip” on her shoulder during that era. “I remember when you came on the scene, and you were embraced, and I was like, ‘wow, I’m not, she is,’” Raven-Symoné explained.
She further confessed that while she appreciated Sidibe for “knocking down doors” for women of color, she felt a sense of anger that the same level of acceptance had not been extended to her during her own career. Sidibe questioned the comparison of their body types during the discussion, but the conversation allowed both women to clear the air regarding their shared history on the “Empire” set in 2015.
Raven-Symoné offered a “my bad” for her past behavior, though the trio suggested that some of the more specific “tea” regarding their feud would be settled in private. This reconciliation follows a busy period for Sidibe, who recently welcomed twins with her husband, Brandon Frankel.
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