Gabourey Sidibe has confronted Raven-Symoné over years of awkward interactions, revealing that she once believed the actress disliked her and had even heard that she discouraged others from becoming friends with her.
The candid exchange took place during Sidibe's appearance on Raven's podcast, Tea Time with Raven and Miranda, released on Thursday, 5 November. What began as a chat about fashion and Hollywood soon turned into an uncomfortable conversation about jealousy, past treatment, and a possible rift between the two actresses.
Sidibe did not hold back as she brought up moments that had stayed with her for years. Raven, meanwhile, offered her own side of the story and admitted that she had once preferred to keep her distance.
The Tense History Behind the Feud
The actresses first crossed paths around the time of the Fox drama Empire, where Sidibe played Becky Williams and Raven made a guest appearance in 2015. Sidibe remembered an uncomfortable meeting at a restaurant in Chicago, where she felt Raven was not happy to see her. That moment added to her belief that the former Disney Channel star wanted nothing to do with her.
During the podcast, Sidibe also brought up something she had heard from other people. She claimed that Raven had asked certain people to promise they would not become friends with her. The names of those people were censored during the conversation, so it remains unclear who was involved.
Raven appeared surprised by the claim and asked who had told Sidibe that. She did not confirm that she had made anyone promise to avoid Sidibe, but admitted that she might have told people, 'Don't bring her around me.' She also said she had been carrying a lot of anger at the time, suggesting there was more behind her behaviour.
Raven Admits Feeling Jealous
The conversation took another turn when Raven opened up about her own feelings towards Sidibe. She admitted that she had felt jealous when Sidibe became widely accepted in Hollywood after starring in the 2009 film Precious. The actress said she was happy that Sidibe was getting new chances, but also felt angry about how differently the industry had treated them.
Raven explained that finding designers willing to dress her had been difficult during her early years in the entertainment business. She said she had struggled to find clothes for major events and often had to buy her own outfits. She also recalled reaching a size 16 and feeling that the fashion world did not give her the same support.
Sidibe, however, challenged Raven's comparison between their experiences. She pointed out that having a large bust was not the same as being a plus-size woman in Hollywood. Raven explained that her clothing size had changed over the years, but their exchange showed that they had very different views of the treatment they received.
Miranda Maday Helps Clear the Air
Raven's wife and podcast co-host, Miranda Maday, also joined the discussion and tried to explain why her partner may have come across as unfriendly. She described Raven as someone who could be shady, petty, and difficult at times, but said she did not believe her wife would go behind someone's back to stop a friendship. Maday added that Raven could seem cold and distant when meeting people she did not know well.
Her comments gave Sidibe another way to look at their past encounters. Maday suggested that Raven's behaviour could come from not knowing someone or feeling unsure about opening up to them. Raven also appeared willing to accept that her actions may have made Sidibe feel unwelcome.
By the end of the conversation, the mood had become much lighter. Miranda even invited Sidibe to join her and Raven for a Pilates class, suggesting that they could spend time together and get to know each other better. The podcast later shared a clip of the exchange with the caption, 'Consider the beef squashed.'
