The Real Reason Raven-Symon Was On 'Empire'
So much of Empire's legacy has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding one of the show's main stars. Of direction, Jussie Smollett wasn't in the final season of the hit FOX show nor was he even commemorated with flashbacks in the 2020 finale. Theoretically, this must have allowed the filmmakers to focal point on Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson's wildly fashionable Cookie a little bit extra. But there's no doubt lovers felt the absence of the deeply vital personality.
Jussie's Jamal Lyon was at the middle of numerous groundbreaking storylines on Empire. This includes a Season One plot where it is published that his father pressured him to marry a woman he allegedly had a baby with even if he was homosexual. That lady was Olivia Lyon, and he or she was performed by way of iconic Disney Channel superstar Raven-Symoné. It felt like an odd little bit of casting, but it in point of fact worked. Here's the real reason the former big name of That's So Raven and The Cosby Show ended up playing Olivia for a couple of episodes in the first season of Empire...
What Episode Of Empire Is Raven-Symoné In?
Technically, Raven-Symoné is in three episodes of FOX's Empire. Although she's most effective credited on IMDb for two. This is because her first look was a cliffhanger at the tail end of "Out Damned Spot", the sixth episode of the first season. After her large entrance, it is revealed that her character, Olivia, may just be the mom of Jamal's kid. Raven adopted up her quick first appearance with two full episodes, "Our Dancing Days" and "Sins Of The Father".
While Raven-Symoné's personality arc may've endured into the 2nd season, she never ended up showing on the show again. Her daughter, Lola, who was regarded as Jamal's daughter (but wasn't) did return to the display in the 2d season. Even regardless that enthusiasts have been disappointed that Raven herself never returned, a minimum of they were given to look the former View co-host own the screen as Olivia for a brief tale arc.
Why Raven-Symoné Joined The Cast Of Empire
During a 2015 interview with Vulture, Raven-Symoné explained how she ended up as Jamal's conceivable baby-mama in the first season.
"Interestingly enough, I was on the set already visiting friends — Jussie Smollett, Terrence Howard, and everybody — just saying hi and seeing how everyone was doing," Raven-Symoné said to Vulture. "I was there for a little while and then I got a call from my manager and he was like, 'Are you in Chicago?' I said, 'Yeah, why?' 'They want you to do this role coming up.' And I said, 'Wow! I would like to.' So it was perfect timing."
Of direction, Raven was instructed about the massive curveball her personality was coming in with. While the true id of Lola's organic father ended up no longer being Jamal, there was a mount the place it seemed his lifestyles was going to change eternally. And that temporary revelation was all due to Raven's Olivia appearing up and stirring up bother.
"I definitely have to know what I’m gonna be playing before I say yes to it. You can have the most fabulous show in the world, but there’s just some things I won’t be part of because of what I believe as a human being," Raven continued. "So I had to be a part of it, especially since, [co-creator] Lee Daniels, we’ve had meetings before in the past. And he definitely picked the [character] that, like, this is what I’ll do before it goes over the edge."
Even though Raven appeared open to returning to Empire in the second season, it by no means came to go. Still, being on Empire turned out to be a very sure experience for her. Clearly, the creators of the show additionally have been delighted about having her alongside for the experience. They even gifted Raven's character with the same identify as the one who first broke her into the trade.
"Jussie and I both thought it was everythiiiiing," Raven mentioned about her Empire personality sharing the identical identify as the one she performed on The Cosby Show as a child. "And when I found out that was the name, the first thing that came to my mind was that was my first name in this industry! I did a lot after that and then I took my little retirement break, in my mind, and I come back on the scene with the same name in some real juicy scenes! It’s a good omen. So anytime I hear that name Olivia, I’m gonna definitely pay attention to it because it’s connected with some great material."
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