Why Did Zendaya Leave Disney? What Led to This?
Why Did Zendaya Leave Disney? Zendaya is known for her breakout role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel show “Shake It Up,” but in recent years, she’s been making a name for herself outside of the Disney universe.
She’s appeared in movies like “The Greatest Showman” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” and her career is only growing from there. But why did she decide to leave Disney in the first place?
Why Did Zendaya Leave Disney?
At thirteen, Zendaya made her television debut on the hit sitcom “Shake It Up” on the Disney Channel (2010–2013). Unlike many Disney performers who distanced themselves from the network after the show ended, Zendaya made an unexpected flip.
Her major role in “K.C. Undercover” brought her back to Disney (2015-2018). Staying with Disney wasn’t the only consideration in this decision. According to reports, Zendaya used her influence to secure a producer’s credit, giving her more creative freedom.
She made use of her position to make sure the show provided young girls with positive representation—especially girls of color, something she believed the channel lacked.
Zendaya’s skill was not limited to acting during her time at Disney. In addition to doing some fashion design work, she put out a music record.
Her ability to completely pursue these artistic endeavors may have been limited by Disney’s brand image, which is renowned for its spotless image.
Perhaps the constraints of a Disney-marketed image became a concern as Zendaya grew older and her goals higher.
Zendaya had already started to move into more mature roles by the time “K.C. Undercover” concluded in 2018. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she played the voice of MJ beginning with “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017).
She also had a voice role in the animated film “Moana” (2016). These roles allowed her to explore other performing possibilities and demonstrated the breadth of her acting career.
Did Zendaya Retire From Music?
Zendaya is a multi-talented artist who has achieved great success in both acting and singing. While she hasn’t released new music in a while, there’s no official word on her retiring from music altogether.
Zendaya developed a love of music at a young age. Before securing her breakthrough role on Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up” (2010–2013), she posted singing videos to YouTube.
There was a lot of music in the show, and many were impressed with Zendaya’s singing. She became a Hollywood Records signee in 2011 and released her first album, featuring the popular tune “Replay.”
After that, Zendaya released the single “Swag It Out” in 2012 and reissued her debut album with extra tracks. She furthered her career as a singer by working with musicians such as Bella Thorne and Boyce Avenue.
But it was her leading parts in films like “Dune” (2021) and “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017) that launched her acting career.
Final Thoughts
Zendaya made a brave but necessary decision when she decided to quit Disney. She wouldn’t allow anything to get in the way of her desire to take advantage of fresh possibilities and extend her wings.
Her experience serves as a reminder that sometimes taking a big risk is necessary to realize your full potential. When Zendaya took that risk, look where it got her: a prosperous and satisfying career.
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