The Cheetah Girls franchise, which began with a Disney Channel Original Movie in 2003, is reportedly set to expand with a new film, "The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen." However, the announcement has been overshadowed by ongoing public feuds between the original cast members, particularly Kiely Williams and her former groupmates Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton.
Kiely Williams' sister, Tse Meidas, publicly criticized Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton on social media, labeling them "hateful b******s" and "2 faced and liars." Meidas also stated that "Kiely was the easy person to villainize" and expressed a belief in karma for the alleged mistreatment.
The tensions within the group are not new. Raven-Symoné previously chose not to participate in the third film, "The Cheetah Girls: One World," citing feelings of exclusion during the filming of the second movie. In a 2020 Instagram Live session with Kiely Williams, Raven-Symoné explained, "The cliquish way that there was during that movie made me feel excluded from my original team." Kiely Williams acknowledged Raven-Symoné's feelings but also expressed lingering resentment towards Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, stating that Bailon-Houghton did not contact her when her father passed away.
Despite these past and present conflicts, Raven-Symoné is slated to return for "The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen" in her original role as Galleria Garibaldi and will also serve as a producer. Sabrina Bryan, who played Dorinda Thomas, is expected to make a special appearance. The new film is set to follow a new group of aspiring singers as they volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary in Africa.
Cast Members' Careers Post-Cheetah Girls
Raven-Symoné, already a prominent figure from her Disney Channel shows like "That's So Raven," continued a successful career in television and voice acting. She starred in "Raven's Home," a spin-off of "That's So Raven," which concluded in 2024 after six seasons. She also had a stint as a panelist on "The View" and has remained active as an influencer. Raven-Symoné married Miranda Pearman-Maday in 2020, and they host podcasts together.
Adrienne Bailon-Houghton began her career in the music group 3LW alongside Kiely Williams. After "The Cheetah Girls" franchise, she transitioned into television hosting, becoming a founding co-host of the talk show "The Real," which earned a Daytime Emmy Award. She also co-anchored E! News before stepping down to focus on family. Bailon-Houghton is married to musician Israel Houghton and they have a son.
Kiely Williams also started in 3LW and appeared in all three "Cheetah Girls" films. Following the franchise, she pursued a solo music career and acting, appearing in films like "The House Bunny." She has since shifted to behind-the-scenes creative work and is married with two children.
Sabrina Bryan, who played Dorinda Thomas, has had a varied career that includes competing on "Dancing With the Stars" and hosting a podcast focused on Disney Channel Original Movies. She has largely stepped away from full-time entertainment to focus on her family and has two children with her husband. Her involvement in the new film is described as a "special appearance."