Why That is So Raven Star Orlando Brown Disappeared From Hollywood

For a sure era of children who grew up within the early 2000s, Orlando Brown was an important a part of their upbringing. He performed one of many core characters within the collection “That is So Raven,” which is considered among the best Disney Channel authentic reveals ever. Brown starred as Eddie Thomas alongside Raven-Symoné’s Raven and Anneliese van der Pol’s Chelsea in all 100 episodes of the collection. The collection additionally spawned a spin-off within the type of “Cory within the Home.” 

When a present runs for that lengthy, the actors go away an impression on viewers. Whereas Raven-Symoné went on to star in a profitable sequel collection titled “Raven’s Home,” the identical cannot be stated for Brown. Not lengthy after the present went off the air in 2007, Brown ostensibly disappeared from Hollywood. Or, on the very least, he stored a comparatively low-profile, save for when he was making headlines for less-than-great causes.

So, what occurred to Brown? Why did he fade away from the limelight? We’ll resolve what the previous little one star has been as much as in recent times. It’s, unhappy to say, not precisely a cheerful story.

It is under no circumstances unusual for actors to dabble in music. From Bruce Willis to Eddie Murphy, it occurs on a regular basis. “The Avengers” star Jeremy Renner makes tunes and even wound up on “The Umbrella Academy” soundtrack. It is a common prevalence. On condition that Brown had made music earlier than starring on “That is So Raven,” it should not be too stunning that he opted to wander down that very same path after the present ended.

Brown launched a video for a tune known as “Peter Pan” in 2009 and has continued to launch music right here and there through the years. A few years in the past, he even tried to get in on one in all Netflix’s hottest reveals ever with a tune known as “Squid Recreation.” A few of his different singles embody “Head 2 Da Skai” and “God is in Me.”

So far as that final one goes, Brown turned fairly non secular a number of years again, even delivering a speech at Rise Church in 2020. It is a bit of unclear what the actor and musician’s relationship is to faith as of late; a few of his habits appears to run in opposition to that individual grain.

Proper across the time “That is So Raven” was ending its record-setting run on Disney Channel, off-screen authorized points started for Orlando Brown. The actor was first arrested in 2007 for marijuana possession. The medicine have been present in his automobile, although Brown denied it was his. “I did not know what was within the automotive. That is not what I do. I take into account myself a youth activist,” he stated on the time, by way of Chron.

Sadly, this was removed from the final time that Brown discovered himself on the fallacious aspect of the regulation. He was arrested in 2011 for allegedly driving beneath the affect and ended up serving jail time after failing to finish court-ordered alcohol schooling lessons. Brown was sentenced to 180 days in jail in 2013, per TMZ.

Extra just lately, Brown was arrested in 2022 on a home violence cost after allegedly threatening one in all his kin with a hammer and a knife. In a report from Folks on the time, the unnamed relative claimed that Brown “got here at him with a hammer and knife in a threatening method.” The report added that this relative “believed Orlando was going to assault him.”

Once more, this occurred after Brown had seemingly discovered some stability in his life after years of drug abuse. At a Rise Church fundraising occasion in 2020, the actor candidly revealed a few of what he went by on his journey to restoration:

“I went by so much. I experimented with crystal meth, with weed. I did not know what I used to be doing. I used to be hooked on the web. Every kind of stuff.”

Over time, the variety of questionable issues that Orlando Brown has stated have piled up so excessive that it is tough to get into all of them. However, to summarize briefly earlier than stepping into some specifics, he has claimed that the rapper Drake is definitely his former co-star Raven-Symoné, alleged that the Illuminati is “my household,” and asserted that Nick Cannon gave him oral intercourse. That is actually simply the tip of the iceberg.

Over time, Brown has additionally stated weird issues about Hollywood generally. In a 2022 interview with UNWINEWITHTASHAK, he made actually wild claims about individuals promoting their souls to turn into well-known and, in essence, gaining everlasting life:

“What it’s essential to perceive is, if you do promote your soul, you might be allowed to dwell endlessly. And these individuals which can be known as youngins, rookies, new-booties, like I used to be, had no concept that these individuals nonetheless lived. And they’d prey, hunt, kidnap, something to remain on high. That is their world. They don’t have anything however time, is what they imagine…We’re speaking about everybody that is presupposed to be lifeless.”

That is however one instance. One other now notorious one got here 5 years in the past when Brown appeared on Dr. Phil‘s YouTube channel. Probably the most outstanding a part of that interview got here when Brown claimed that the late pop star Michael Jackson was his father:

“My full title is Orlando Brown Prince Michael Jackson Jr. aka Blanket…My nickname I gave to myself. My father was Michael Jackson, the good Michael Jackson…I used to at all times surprise why I am so astronomically blessed and gifted in relation to being proficient. I rap, sing and I do all the things immaculately. The eyes. And likewise simply chatting with completely different Jackson members of the family that, you already know, have confirmed it. So yeah, it is a blessing to know that. I can sit right here as we speak and say, that yeah, that Michael Jackson was my father.”

This all provides to a basic sample of instability. Whether or not or not Brown even needs to proceed performing at this level is sort of irrelevant. It is tough to think about producers for large reveals or films eager to danger hiring somebody who seems to be coping with a whole lot of private issues. Even so, Brown does, occasionally, nonetheless present up in a venture right here or there.

Regardless of the entire off-screen points and feedback, Brown has managed to e-book gigs. Arguably his largest venture since leaving “That is So Raven” was 2015’s much-acclaimed N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton.” It was actually the largest film he is been part of, however his function was restricted to “Block Dude,” a glorified additional within the grand scheme of issues.

Aside from that, he is appeared in smaller films reminiscent of 2012’s “Christmas in Compton,” 2015’s “American Unhealthy Boy,” 2016’s “Smoke Stuffed Lungs,” and most just lately 2022’s “Bloody Arms.” Brown additionally appeared as himself within the actuality collection “Unhealthy Boys Texas” in addition to an episode of Gordon Ramsey’s “Hell’s Kitchen.” But it surely’s all been comparatively small potatoes and, in all chance, the presents aren’t going to come back pouring in except one thing dramatic modifications for the higher sooner somewhat than later. That additionally appears unlikely given some more moderen developments.

Just lately, famous music producer, rapper, and occasional actor in films like “Get Him to the Greek” Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested on intercourse trafficking and racketeering expenses. NPR notes that he has additionally been served with 18 civil fits, with fairly a number of celebrities concerned both because the accusers or the accused linked to the alleged crimes.

So, how does Orlando Brown tie into all of this? At a time when seemingly everybody with something to guard is making an attempt to distance themselves from Diddy, Brown has been proudly proclaiming his friendship with the mogul whereas additionally defending him in fairly outlandish methods. Brown known as Diddy “one in all my finest mates” in an interview with Cam Capone Information:

“Folks offered their souls to Diddy, after which they’re mad now as a result of the hazing course of was a bit of bit rougher than they thought. You’ll be able to’t f*** a king. Why do you assume I really like Diddy a lot? You are not gonna dethrone this man as a result of he know how one can get you there by the use of hazing you.”

As of this writing, the result of those authorized proceedings stays unsure however, on the very least, given what’s already come to mild, this is not an incredible search for Brown.