Everybody loves to say people are entitled to their opinions, but let’s be real, some opinions are going to spark debate, and that’s exactly what happened when Raven Symoné dropped her Disney Channel Mount Rushmore.
What even is that? Mount Rushmore is supposed to represent the most important figures and the ones who truly influenced a generation. So when we talk about a “Disney Mount Rushmore,” we’re talking about the faces who defined the channel and shaped an entire generation’s childhood.
Raven put herself, Hilary Duff, Shia LaBeouf, and Lee Thompson Young on her list. And honestly? Here’s where things get a little debatable. In the same breath, she denies Miley Cyrus a seat as a “founding father”. Its not that any name was invalid because they absolutely are valid, but because leaving out Miley Cyrus feels like a bad decision. Miley wasn’t just part of Disney, she was Disney for a whole era. With only one character by the way. Hannah Montana dominated the culture, and acting like she’s not a “founding father” just doesn’t add up.
Now you know fans came to Miley’s rescue; they didn’t tolerate no Miley slander. People were quick to call Raven out, and some even said it felt personal, like she never really supported Miley to begin with. Raven has every right to her own opinion; that doesn’t mean people have to agree with it, especially when it ignores someone who clearly helped define the network, not just the viewers.
However, with that being said, Raven isn’t completely off. The people she named did lay important bricks for those to follow. They helped build Disney into what it became for the next generation. If we’re being honest, a true Mount Rushmore should reflect impact and cultural influence and that’s where her list falls short.
Personally, my Disney Mount Rushmore looks very different. I’d put Raven Symoné of course, China Anne McClain, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato up there without hesitation. Yes, it’s all women, and rightfully so. These were the faces that carried Disney and pushed it forward, both on and off screen. Their influence is the reason we had shows like K.C. Undercover, Liv and Maddie, Andi Mack, and Dog with a Blog. We were the last generation to get good tv shows, worth watching.
At the end of the day, I can respect Raven’s list but I don’t agree with it. If we’re talking about who truly defined Disney Channel, then we need to give credit where it’s actually due.
