Top 10 Disney Channel Stars Who Shaded Disney

#10: Zac Efron

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We don’t think there’s anyone who could possibly hate “High School Musical” or Troy Bolton more than Zac Efron. In an interview with “Nylon Guys Journal” he was quite explicit about the way he feels about that time in his life, even saying that the fame he achieved was “not a real thing”. Like many other young actors, Efron worked hard to break free, no pun intended, of the squeaky clean teen idol image manufactured by the network. He even participated in a “Saturday Night Live” sketch that might have ruffled a few feathers over at the Disney Channel.

The “A.N.T. Farm” actress spilled scalding hot tea on her experience as a teenager growing up on the Disney Channel. She struggled with their unrealistic expectations, including having her voice stifled and feeling like she constantly had to sugarcoat everything. Once the show ended, she quickly sought to ditch the “Disney girl” label in order to be taken more seriously as an actor and prove that she could also play roles with emotional depth. She also shaded other former Disney stars by saying that she wouldn’t resort to hypersexualized characters just to shake off the Disney mold.

Today, Rowan Blanchard is happy to be known as an outspoken activist, but it’s actually her experience on the channel which helped her find her voice. In an interview with “W Magazine”, she said that she spent four years working for a corporation known for, “silencing and crafting” voices. The experience taught her to stand her ground and create boundaries, separating herself from the network. Although Rowan has praised the show for it’s inclusivity, today she finds comfort in knowing that people recognize her for her activism rather than only her time on “Girl Meets World”.

#7: Selena Gomez

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While promoting her new album “Rare” on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” Gomez referred to her time at Disney as “the best time of [her] life.” However, that doesn’t mean everything was perfect and she’s also revealed that she felt controlled. The pressure of fitting Disney’s “good girl” image took its toll on Selena and she called the experience exhausting. She also said that it led to some uncomfortable decisions and caused her to question her love for her job. Once she left the network, she decided to make a clean break - even letting go of her mom as her manager. Awkward.

The former “Shake It Up” actor has openly criticized the network for creating an unattainable image and forcing its stars into a “really tight” box. She divulged that she would even change her voice to fit Disney’s image and that she was encouraged to be competitive with her co-star, Zendaya. She also revealed that Disney almost fired her after a photo of her in a bikini surfaced online, but decided not to due to her vast fanbase. After leaving the network and no longer having anyone around to dictate her decisions, Bella finally felt like she could be her authentic self.

#5: Joe Jonas

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While this Jonas brother is grateful for the opportunities Disney offered, it sounds like he and his brothers spent their time there treading on eggshells, afraid of making mistakes. In a lengthy essay, he discussed the lack of creative freedom and being forced into an image he had already outgrown. He and his brothers even admitted that they regretted doing their Disney show “Jonas” as it stunted their growth. Joe suggested that the network wants actors who’ll be a “perfect little puppet forever”. Is it really any surprise that he, Kevin and Nick decided to walk away?

Living in the spotlight since she was knee-high, Raven was exposed to the pressures of the entertainment industry early on. She talks about being surrounded by a team whose responsibility it was to protect the “Raven-Symoné brand”. They pressured her to lose weight, which she initially resisted, declaring herself “thick and fabulous”. She also admitted that she suppressed her sexuality due to worries about her career. Considering “That’s So Raven” taught us that everyone is beautiful in their own right, you would hope that Disney instills these values in their stars too.

#3: Demi Lovato

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Now an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, Demi says that her time at the Disney Channel led to what she refers to as her “downfall”. She recalls being overworked and being so controlled by the people around her that she didn’t have time to focus on her own mental wellbeing. She also revealed in an interview with Allure that Disney wanted her to fix a gap in her teeth, which she regrets doing. In 2011 she called out Disney again for featuring eating disorder jokes in two of their shows, especially galling considering that this was among the reasons she’d left the network.

#2: Cole Sprouse

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After disembarking from the S.S. Tipton, Cole decided to take a step back from the entertainment industry. Growing up on set, he developed social anxiety and just didn’t know how to communicate with others his own age. With some encouragement from his family, Cole stepped out of the limelight to deal with the psychological toll that child actors often endure. He says he used this time to get a “dose of reality” and learn how to manage his anxiety away from the Disney Channel “automaton”. Fortunately, he also rediscovered his love of acting and now plays Jughead in “Riverdale”.

#1: Miley Cyrus

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It’s no secret that Miley took a “Wrecking Ball” to her Disney image after her show “Hannah Montana” ended. She admitted to Elle that although she worked in blissful ignorance, her mom took action to protect her from being taken advantage of, and that she was the “probably the least-paid” member of the cast. Miley has also addressed the self-identity issues she faced, including body dysmorphia and feeling like she lost ownership over her own name. In an interview with GQ, her father and co-star, Billy Ray Cyrus said that the experience “destroyed [his] family” and he would “take it back in a second.”