Gabourey Sidibe confronted Raven-Symoné about their uncomfortable history during a recent podcast appearance, revealing that she once believed the Disney star disliked her and had allegedly discouraged other people from becoming her friends.
Video
The unexpected conversation unfolded during the November 5 episode of “Tea Time with Raven and Miranda,” hosted by Raven and her wife, Miranda Maday. What started as a discussion about Hollywood, body image, and the entertainment industry’s treatment of women quickly turned into an examination of their past interactions.
Sidibe wasn’t interested in pretending everything had always been friendly between them.
“I didn’t think you liked me … I’m actually here like, what’s up?” Sidibe admitted, putting Raven directly on the spot.
Raven appeared surprised by the confession and immediately wanted an explanation.
“Why didn’t you think I liked you?” she asked.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
Gabourey Sidibe explained that her feelings weren’t based on one isolated moment. She recalled interactions that left her uncomfortable and revealed that she had heard something especially troubling about Raven’s alleged behavior behind the scenes.
“I was told that you made some people promise not to be friends with me,” Sidibe told her.
The accusation introduced an entirely different level of tension. Sidibe wasn’t simply describing a colleague who appeared distant or unfriendly. She was sharing a claim that Raven had allegedly attempted to influence other people’s relationships with her.
However, the allegation has not been independently substantiated, and Raven did not acknowledge making anyone promise to avoid Sidibe.
The actresses’ history goes back more than a decade, including their time working on Fox’s hit musical drama Empire. Gabourey Sidibe portrayed Becky Williams throughout the series, while Raven made guest appearances as Olivia during the show’s first season in 2015.
Sidibe also remembered an encounter in Chicago that reinforced her impression that Raven wasn’t particularly interested in connecting with her.
“I felt like you were put off by me,” she explained.
Raven maintained that she hadn’t really known Sidibe at the time. But rather than completely dismissing the uncomfortable recollections, she acknowledged that her attitude toward certain people could have been less than welcoming.
“What I would say is, ‘Don’t bring her around me,'” Raven admitted while describing how she might have expressed discomfort with someone.
Miranda Maday then entered the discussion with her own perspective on her wife’s personality. She acknowledged that Raven could sometimes come across as petty, harsh, or difficult, particularly when dealing with unfamiliar people.
Still, Miranda defended Raven against the suggestion that she would deliberately interfere with another person’s friendships. She explained that Raven’s distant demeanor shouldn’t automatically be interpreted as an attempt to turn people against someone.
The conversation also uncovered another surprising admission.
Raven acknowledged feeling jealous of Gabourey Sidibe when the actress experienced major Hollywood recognition following her breakthrough performance in the 2009 film “Precious.”
Raven explained that growing up in the entertainment industry had exposed her to frustrating experiences surrounding fashion and body image. She remembered struggling to find designers willing to dress her, while watching Sidibe receive recognition and opportunities that she felt weren’t available to her.
Sidibe challenged parts of that comparison, making clear that their experiences with body size and public perception weren’t necessarily interchangeable.
The admission provided additional insight into Raven’s attitude during that period. Although Raven didn’t confirm Sidibe’s allegation about friendships, she recognized that her own frustrations with the industry had influenced how she approached certain situations.
Gabourey Sidibe has spent years navigating an industry where plus-size actresses have faced limited fashion options, restrictive beauty standards, and unequal opportunities. Her success in “Precious” earned her an Academy Award nomination and helped establish a career that later included Empire and “American Horror Story.”
Raven, meanwhile, grew up in front of television audiences, transitioning from child stardom to a successful Disney Channel career. She has also spoken publicly about the scrutiny surrounding her body and appearance throughout her years in entertainment.
As the discussion continued, Raven acknowledged some of her past resentment and apologized for how she had come across. The exchange eventually became lighter, with Miranda encouraging the women to move forward rather than remain focused on their uncomfortable history.
The two actresses ultimately laughed together, and the podcast continued with other topics.
Despite the apparent reconciliation, one question remained unresolved: whether Raven actually discouraged anyone from building a friendship with Sidibe.
That claim remains unconfirmed, but the conversation brought previously unspoken feelings into the open, including Raven’s admission that jealousy and her experiences in Hollywood had shaped her attitude toward another successful actress.
