Entertainment
What Do All These Disney Stars Have in Common?
Remember the days when the biggest Disney star "scandal" was that time Troy and Gabriella kissed in High School Musical 2? As the years have gone by, that sweet, innocent time of the past has become a distant memory, and today, many of the people made famous by Disney are more likely to be fending off photo leaks, drug accusations, and rehab reports than causing a TV movie rating to go from "G" to "PG." The latest Disney star suffering from scandal? The Suite Life of Zack and Cody 's Dylan Sprouse, whose nude photos were leaked online on Sunday, Dec. 15.
Sprouse, now 21, was seen posing full-frontal in two photos leaked over the weekend. While one of the photos cut off his face, the actor didn't deny their veracity, tweeting, "I messed up... but I'd be a fool not to own up to it." He also added "n00d" pic dealer to his Twitter bio, in case you needed any more confirmation.
While Sprouse got some flack for the photos, including from his equally-famous twin brother, Cole, who tweeted at his brother, "cold in the bathroom, huh?," there's no question that the "leak" of the nude selfies was a calculated move. Having naked photos released is practically a Disney star rite of passage; it's the former child actor's way of showing that he/she is all grown up, and is tired of being confined to the G-rated corporation's guidelines. Basically, nudies are a former star's Disney diploma, confirming their graduation from the company.
Sprouse may be the latest star to have revealing photos "accidentally" posted online, but he's certainly not the first. Some priors:
1. Vanessa Hudgens
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In 2007, naked photos of then- High School Musical star Hudgens appeared online, causing one of the biggest Disney scandals in recent history. The photos, said by Hudgens' publicist to have been taken privately by the star, were a huge deal, since Hudgens' biggest claim to fame at the time was her leading role in the blockbuster Disney franchise. After their release, Hudgens said that she was "embarrassed" and "regretted" taking the photos, and got a slap on the wrist from Disney, who criticized the star for her "lapse in judgment." A few years later, Hudgens would address the scandal a bit more maturely, calling it "a shitty situation" and "the worst moment" of her career. Um, did she see High School Musical?
2. Miley Cyrus
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Let's take a moment to recognize the fact that in 2008, a photo of Cyrus' naked back caused a tabloid scandal and threatened the future of Hannah Montana. It seems ridiculous now, but at the time, Cyrus' half-naked, covered-by-a-sheet Vanity Fair photo was a major controversy. "I feel so embarrassed," Cyrus said after the picture's release. "I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about." If only that was the extent of Cyrus' scandals...
3. Demi Lovato
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Lovato's nude photos didn't hit the web until earlier this year, by which time the former Sonny With a Chance and Camp Rock star had already weathered her share of controversies. Compared to what she went through with her drug abuse, eating disorders, and rehab stays, a few racy photos probably didn't even get Lovato's PR team to blink.
4. Shia LaBoeuf
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It's not like anyone still associated LaBoeuf with Disney by the time his nude photos were released back in October, but still, Even Stevens fans found themselves wondering when the former Disney star had gotten so... mature. LaBoeuf tweeted out the naked pics himself, using them as promotion for his upcoming film, Charlie Countryman.
