Raven-Symoné and Kenan Thompson discuss the value of childhood fame.

The pair join other child stars including Christina Ricci, Drew Berrymore and Alyson Stoner, who rose to fame dancing alongside Missy Elliott within the 2000s, in a brand new Hulu documentary “Child Star”” co-directed by Demi Lovato.

Symoné, who began her profession at age 3 on “The Cosby Show,” recalls the pressure she felt about her sexuality.

“There was a point in my life when I was asked if I wanted to stop being straight. But it was like the second season of That’s So Raven. It was like the third album,” the 38-year-old recalls.

“I thought to myself, ‘Why are you asking me this question now? Just to make me feel bad if I say yes, when you know I don’t really want to be here right now?'”

Symoné eventually got here out in 2013 and married Miranda Maday in 2020. In the documentary, she also noted how being a baby actor can affect family dynamics.

“But sometimes the dreams of the parents can infiltrate the dreams of the child,” she said. “And you get so caught up in that. Parents forget that children, little children, are performing for their parents. They are performing for the love and affection of their parents.”

Thompson shares this view, adding that children and their families ought to be fully prepared for the consequences of fame.

“It’s not normal for someone in your family to be famous,” Thompson said.

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Thompson, who rose to fame for his appearances in Nickelodeon shows and movies like “Kenan & Kel,” “All That” and “Good Burger,” fell victim to a shady financial advisor who stole all of his earnings. He realized what had happened when he tried to shut on his first home.

“It’s crazy to go from rags to riches and back again,” Thompson said.

Lovato’s documentary is the newest to delve into the real-life experiences of among the industry’s biggest child stars since HBO Max’s “Quiet on the Set: The Darkside of Kids TV” exposed the abuse and exploitation suffered by many Nickelodeon stars. The docuseries was groundbreaking, revealing how producer Dan Schneider created a toxic work environment for performers, writers and others. The film also details instances of significant physical, sexual and emotional abuse experienced by actors, staff and crew members.

Following the discharge of “Silence on the Set,” there have been widespread calls for greater protection of kids within the entertainment industry, which was also reflected in Lovato’s film.

“If I were to talk to my future kids, I would say, ‘Practice, practice, practice,'” Lovato said. And! News on the “Child Star” screening, adding, “Then when you’re old enough, you can follow your dreams and realize them. But it’s important to remember to have a childhood whenever you can.”

Sasha Obama has made probably the most of her time in Los Angeles after transferring from the University of Michigan to the University of Southern California in 2022. After graduating with a level in sociology in 2023, the 23-year-old has develop into a magnet for public attention.

From her workouts to her adult habits, the whole lot the White House’s second black daughter does makes headlines. Sasha never asked for the highlight—her parents did.

Her personal style has come under fire recently, with some fashion critics criticizing Sasha’s casual, “homeless” look. Spotted multiple times around Los Angeles, the second daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama has been showing off her unique style while hanging out with friends, older sister Malia Obama, or just living within the City of Angels.

Recently, HOLA! published photos of the former first daughter running out to do some shopping and having fun with the last days of summer. Dressed in a brown button-down shirt tucked into light blue high-waisted shorts, green slip-ons and her favorite necklace, Sasha looked relaxed and assured.

Despite this, critics have criticized her fashion decisions.

Another outlet, SheKnows covered Sasha’s outfit that called her the “Queen of Street Style.” “Style is not a word that comes to mind,” one commenter wrote when SheKnows covered her outfit, earning her the nickname “Queen of Street Style.”

Another person added: “I mean… Street style queen? In the eyes of the beholder, that’s what I think.”

The insults became increasingly harsh.

“She looks almost homeless. I don’t know how anyone can see anything ‘chic’ or ‘trendy’ in this,” one critic commented. Another wrote: “She looks awful. You’d think she could afford a fashion coach.”

The criticism wasn’t limited to her attire – there have been also intolerant insults, directed not only at Obama’s younger daughter, but in addition her sister.

“Now you know if they were the daughters of a Republican president, the press would tell us what they really thought. So much flattery, I thought I was watching a Bambi movie.”

Looks high lol

— Big Straight (@win_again_exe) September 14, 2024

But Sasha just isn’t without defenders. Many fans have taken to social media, criticizing the media for its scrutiny of her appearance and demanding her privacy.

“These ladies live their lives, there are no reports of drug or alcohol abuse or legal issues,” one person commented, before mentioning, “Their style is comparable or even better than what I see on others their age these days. They don’t walk around in pajamas and slippers. All the comments below are from people who know they will never be able to keep up with these ladies.”

The resistance didn’t end there.

“Both Sasha and Malia Obama are beautiful young women. They are college students and finding their place in the world. Adults of my generation didn’t like what we considered fashion back then, just as we might not like what Sasha and Malia wear today. Leave them alone,” one defender wrote.

Another user summed up what many were pondering: “I wish the press would leave them alone. They were not elected to public office and deserve privacy.”

Adding: “I also think they should leave Barron Trump alone. They’re not their parents.”

This isn’t the first time people have rallied behind Sasha Obama. Earlier this week, she was spotted smoking, which sparked further criticism. However, supporters once more asked the general public to leave her alone, emphasizing that each Sasha and Malia are adults and may legally do whatever they need.

The Obama girls aren’t the one presidential children to face such intense media scrutiny. Chelsea Clinton faced similar harassment during her father’s presidency, enduring cruel comments about her appearance, especially growing up. The Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara, were often criticized for partying and underage drinking while their father, George W. Bush, was in office.

Even Barron Trump faced public criticism for his behavior and appearance despite being a minor.

Things are different now, as social media has develop into a tool for balancing response with public support. While Sasha and the president’s other children should face harsh judgment, their defenders are louder and more visible than ever, offering a counternarrative to the negative attention.

As one person wrote in Sasha’s defense, “Let them just be themselves!”

Natasha Rothwell is ready to tackle latest role as ‘Reesy Teesy’.

As theGrio previously reported, the actress is ready to star in a TV adaptation of the viral TikTok saga “Who TF did I Marry.” While fans reportedly envisioned her starring in a Hollywood adaptation of the viral 52-part series, Rothwell says producing the show was the final thing on her mind.

“I devoured it on the spot,” she said. People Magazine, recalling the primary time she watched videos on social media. “(I didn’t think) ‘Oh, how can I do this?’ I did, (but rather) ‘I want to do everything I can to help this woman get flowers,’ because it was the most vulnerable act of honesty (and) radical vulnerability I’ve ever seen.”

Earlier this yr, social media couldn’t stop talking about Tareasa “Reese Tees” Johnson and her compelling story about her marriage and divorce from the person she calls “Legion.” Sharing candidly the small print of her complicated marriage to “Legion,” who she says is a pathological liar, Johnson’s videos have racked up greater than six million views on social media. So Rothwell wasn’t surprised to see “very competitive” negotiations in Hollywood for Johnson’s story.

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But unlike other producers and executive directors, Rothwell had a singular vision for adapting Who Did I Marry?

“It wasn’t her trauma that interested me and[made me]want to throw my hat in the ring,” she explained. “It was her — who she is as a person, how she survived all of this — and the viral fame, how she survived that. I was like, ‘Oh, this is where I lean in.’”

Having spent nearly eight years developing her recently released Hulu show How to Die Alone , the actress and producer says she took the same approach in negotiations with Johnson. Ultimately, her “if it’s meant to be, it will be” attitude paid off when she was notified that the viral TikTok storyteller desired to work along with her.

“My team called me (and said), ‘She wants to work with you specifically. You saw her in the meeting. She felt seen. It wasn’t opportunistic,'” she added.

But just as Johnson felt seen, the How to Die Alone actress felt seen when the duo met for dinner earlier this month. Feeling like she had met her “twin,” Rothwell compared their interaction to being in a “mutual bubble of love where we just enjoy each other and understand each other and learn about each other.”

“I’m definitely looking forward to approaching her story in a 360-degree way, and not just… telling the story that we’ve all been consuming. I think it’s a lot more interesting than what happened to her,” she said, revealing that the series is “in its very early stages.”