Raven-Symoné is at it again, and this time the former child star is speaking out about the recently televised play, The Wiz Live!. According to the 29-year-old actress/talk show host, NBC’s take on the Broadway classic didn’t exactly tickle her fancy because she missed “the original people.”
On a new episode of The View, Symoné and her co-hosts discussed the cable network’s adaptation of the musical. While her co-hosts praised the play and its star-studded cast which included Queen Latifah, Common, and Mary J. Blige, the actress said that the absence of Michael Jackson and Diana Ross left her mostly unsatisfied.
“I have such a high bar in standard for The Wiz, being that it was Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Stephanie Mills, that when I went into it I was like, ‘Let’s go!’ And then I just…I miss Michael. I miss Diana. It’s a hard act to follow. I just want to say, I miss the original people.”
Immediately after her comments hit the airwaves, Internet users took to Twitter to inform Symoné that The Wiz Live! was based on the stage play and not the movie, which followed the Broadway production.
I need for @ravensymone and @TheView to understand there was a Broadway version of The Wiz prior to movie being released. Not a redo of film
— THE NEXT CEO (@Mz_CEO7) December 4, 2015
@ravensymone Diana, Michael, etc weren’t the originals. Last night was based on the Broadway The Wiz, which came before the movie. @TheView
— Nia Langley (@theNiaLangley) December 4, 2015
The 1978 FILM version of “The Wiz” was NOT the original version of “The Wiz” @ravensymone
— Netflix and Bills (@sawngbyrd28) December 4, 2015
hey @ravensymone the movie The Wiz was based on the play, so Diana and Michael did not originate those roles, Stephanie Mills did #TheView
— Scott Madison (@ATXScott) December 4, 2015
Though some took to their keyboards to respectfully correct the talk show host, others weren’t too kind and slammed Symoné for once again making less than wise statements.
Once again @ravensymone @TheView show why she needs to go. Of course she had to dis The Wiz!
— Michael A. Bowden (@mymic1) December 4, 2015
I swear a Raven Symone NEVER has anything nice to say. NEVER! The Wiz was great. End of story #TheView
— Marie Mitchell (@beeasy_breezy) December 4, 2015
Raven-Symone is shading “The Wiz Live”? She must be mad she didn’t get an audition.
— Budget Adonis Creed (@luckyturner) December 4, 2015
So Raven Symone is out here being her ignorant self. Yall knew she wasn’t going to say anything positive about The Wiz Live
— First Of My Name (@JereeSaidSo) December 4, 2015
The Wiz Live! was a ratings success with over 11 million viewers tuning in when it was broadcast last Thursday (Dec. 3). As a result, NBC will show an encore of the musical next Saturday (Dec. 19) at 8 p.m.
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