On Tea Time Podcast, Gabourey Sidibe Confronts Raven Symon About Past Tension and Jealousy
Sidibe raises past concerns
On Tea Time, Gabourey Sidibe asked Raven-Symoné about how she felt treated during their brief time working together years ago. Sidibe said Raven seemed as though she did not like her, telling her, “Girl, I didn’t think you liked me.” Sidibe also said she had heard that Raven asked some people not to be friends with her. The podcast censored the names of the people they were discussing.
Raven recalls feeling jealous
Raven, known for That’s So Raven, acknowledged feeling “jealous” of Sidibe after Sidibe found success with the 2009 Oscar-winning film Precious, directed by Lee Daniels. Sidibe also recalled going to a restaurant in Chicago and getting the impression Raven was “put off” by her. Miranda Pearman-Maday wondered whether Sidibe was referring to Empire, where Sidibe was recurring in the first season and became a regular from season two onward.
Miranda offers another view
Pearman-Maday said Raven could be “shady” and “petty,” but argued that she would not go behind someone’s back to tell others not to befriend Sidibe. She added that Raven did not have the energy to do that. Raven said she might instead say, “Don’t bring her around me,” and acknowledged having “a lot of chips on my shoulders.” Pearman-Maday said Raven can come across as “very cold and very distant” when uncertain about a person or situation.
Key points
- Sidibe discussed past tension with Raven-Symoné on the Tea Time podcast.
- Raven said she had felt jealous after Sidibe’s success with Precious.
- Sidibe said she heard people had been asked not to be friends with her.
- Pearman-Maday said Raven can seem cold but would not tell others to avoid Sidibe.