Disney Stars Respond to Nick Jonas’ Wild Love Island Comparison—See Who Called Him Out

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For Nick Jonas, life is truly what you make it. 

Approximately a year following the comment made by a member of the Jonas Brothers, who notoriously likened the Disney Channel’s late-2000s summer reality competition, The Disney Channel Games, which showcased the channel’s biggest stars, to “Love Island on steroids,” several other participants from that era voiced their disagreement.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “On April 30th, much like a rollercoaster ride, my day consisted of sweating it out, channeling my inner rockstar on the infamous Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

Lucas Grabeel, known for his role as Ryan in the High School Musical series, agreed that the overarching recollection from the summer-set shows (produced in 2006, 2007, and 2008) was the intense heat.

Reflecting back, all I can recall is how unbearably hot it was, and my desire to be among those commentating on the games rather than participating myself.

Simultaneously, Nick, who had romantic relationships with both Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez during their peak Disney fame, recalled the nature of the games differently when he likened them to “Love Island”.

Nick, who was part of several Disney franchises with brothers Kevin Jonas and Joe Jonas, including “Camp Rock” with Demi Lovato, reminisced on The Tonight Show in 2024 about the Disney Channel Games. He described them as being similar to the Olympics, but instead of athletes from different countries competing, they brought together around a hundred Disney Channel stars from all over the world and had them play silly games. Nick added that it was like letting loose a bunch of teenagers in the Disney park after hours and seeing what would happen.

The controversial opinion expressed by Nick has been circulating among the family of former Disney Channel stars. Not long after Nick’s analogy became popular online, Dylan Sprouse, who starred on Disney shows with his brother Cole from 2005 to 2011 as part of Suite Life of Zack and Cody, showed his astonishment at the comparison.

Dylan, who watches the series alongside his wife Barbara Palvin Sprouse, made this point on the “Chicks in the Office” podcast last August: “The DC Games were fundamentally different. It’s not fair to compare something predominantly involving 90% 14-year-olds with a show like ‘Love Island’.

As a lifestyle expert, I find myself reflecting upon Jason Earles’ understanding stance towards Nick, who gained fame as a Disney Channel star at a similar age, making headlines with his controversial opinions. Despite the public backlash, it’s essential to remember that we were both part of an industry that can be overwhelming and challenging, shaping our perspectives in unique ways. Let’s extend grace and empathy towards each other as we navigate our post-Disney lives.

Jason quipped on the Night School podcast, “I guess it varies depending on who you are.” If you’re someone like Nick Jonas, wouldn’t the world seem like an endless, steamy smorgasbord of romance? But if you’re more like me or a Sprouse twin in the past, it was about sweating and playing games. I believe the Disney Channel games could be whatever one chose to interpret them as.

Well, Jason here, and I’ll be honest with you, my friends. During that fun-filled Disney tournament, there were moments when I wasn’t entirely myself. As I reflect back, I can’t help but feel ashamed about how proud I was of outperforming those young ones in the games. It’s not a feeling I’m particularly proud of now.

To check in on more Disney alums, keep reading… 

Following his debut as charming teen idol Ethan Craft in Hilary Duff’s comedy, Clayton Snyder paused his acting career to graduate from high school and attend Pepperdine University, where he played water polo. While he appeared in a 2014 episode of NCIS, currently he is concentrating on his real estate business.

However, when the topic arises, he doesn’t hesitate to discuss his days as a child star. As he shared with TopMob News, “Often, clients discover who I am halfway through a showing. But that makes me feel good because I know they aren’t working with me for that reason. It’s like having the best of both worlds – they enjoy recognizing me from my acting days, but their primary connection is based on the work we do in real estate.

Following his memorable portrayal of Lizzie’s friend-turned-boyfriend David “Gordo” Gordon on the cherished comedy series, Adam Lamberg secured roles in movies titled When Do We Dine? and The Beautiful Loser. His LinkedIn profile indicates that he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Geography at UC Berkeley and later pursued a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College. However, he had initially planned to rejoin the cast for the Lizzie McGuire reboot, but he has since stepped away from acting.

After Lalaine’s character Miranda Sanchez was absent from the last six episodes of “Lizzie McGuire” and the 2003 movie due to filming for Disney Channel Original Movie “You Wish!”, her career seemed to follow a similar trajectory. Her music career didn’t gain much traction, and a sequel series titled “What’s Stevie Thinking?” (focused on Miranda’s younger sister) never progressed beyond the pilot stage in 2007. That year, she was arrested and charged with felony possession of meth. Following court-ordered rehab, the charge was removed from her record. Since then, she’s been more recognizable on Instagram than on either the big or small screen, although she did appear in the film “Easy A” in 2010. However, a movie titled “Definition Please” was released in 2020 featuring her.

Following 65 episodes as the cherished younger brother Matt on Lizzie McGuire, Jake Thomas consistently landed roles, featuring in Disney’s Cory In the House and later appearing as a guest star on shows like ER, House, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and S.W.A.T.. He also collaborated with YouTuber Joey Graceffa in the web series Storytellers from 2013 to 2014.

In 2018, he completed his studies at Cal State University, Northridge, earning a degree in Screenwriting with a minor in Japanese Language. On his Instagram, he posts a blend of his personal photography and reminiscent photos from his days as a child actor.

Following her debut lead role in the 2000 DCOM “Rip Girls,” Camilla Belle momentarily stepped away from acting, before reappearing in the 2006 remake of “When a Stranger Calls” and the blockbuster hit “10,000 BC.”

She had a brief romance with Joe Jonas, whom she met on set during the filming of the Jonas Brothers’ music video for “Lovebug,” from late-2008 to mid-2009. This relationship was immortalized in the Taylor Swift song “Better Than Revenge.”

Since then, she has primarily worked on independent films, including “Open Road,” “Diablo,” and the 2017 film starring James Franco, titled “The Mad Whale.” Lately, she’s made guest appearances on “Dollface” and “Law & Order: Organized Crime.

After wrapping up his tenure as Max, the youngest Russo sibling on “Wizards of Waverly Place” in 2012, Jake T. Austin swiftly secured a leading role on ABC Family’s show, which later became Freeform’s “The Fosters.” During the first two seasons, he portrayed Jesus Foster before departing and being succeeded by Noah Centineo. Following this, he participated in season 23 of “Dancing With the Stars,” only to be the first contestant eliminated. Additionally, he provided voice-overs for 2017’s “The Emoji Movie” and 2020’s “Adverse,” a thriller featuring Mickey Rourke. He is slated to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel of “Wizards.

Since the show ended in 2012, David Henrie, who played Justin Russo, the eldest sibling, has taken a slightly different path. He was not involved in the follow-up film “The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex”, but he did appear in movies like “Grown Ups 2” and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”.

He tied the knot with former Miss Delaware Maria Cahill in April 2017, and their daughter Pia Francesca Philomena Henrie was born on March 19, 2019. Just as he announced they were expecting a baby, he was arrested at LAX for carrying a loaded gun in the airport. After admitting it was an unintentional act, he received a sentence of two years probation and 20 days of community service.

Now, being a father of three, he is working alongside Selena Gomez as an executive producer and star in the new Disney+ spin-off series.

Following her role as Harper Finkle, Alex Russo’s BFF, in The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, Jennifer Stone went on to star in the 2014 Lifetime thriller High School Possession and portray a Babysitter in Nickelodeon’s anthology series Deadtime Stories. In 2013, she was diagnosed with a type of adult-onset diabetes known as latent autoimmune diabetes, also called Type 1.5 diabetes. Her film The In-Between aimed to raise more understanding about this condition.

10 months ago, Mia Talerico was just a baby when she got cast as Charlie Duncan on the TV show “Good Luck Charlie”, which premiered in April 2010. After the series ended in 2014, Mia has been busy! She’s appeared in 13 episodes of Brat’s kids’ show “Mani” and runs her own YouTube channel where she does unboxing and toy reviews. Can you believe it? She’s only 15 years old now!

After the conclusion of “Good Luck Charlie,” Teddy Duncan, one of Charlie’s older siblings, transitioned into a more mature role when Bridgit Mendler joined the second season of NBC’s comedy “Undateable” in 2015. She acted in two seasons of the sitcom before it was canceled. Since then, she has made appearances in two episodes of “Nashville,” the Netflix film “Father of the Year,” and a Netflix series co-starring Dennis Quaid and Ashley Tisdale, titled “Merry Happy Whatever.”

Bridgit Mendler, who has also released two albums, pursued graduate studies at MIT, as announced in May 2018. In January 2019, she disclosed her enrollment at Harvard Law School. Most recently, she and her engineer husband, Griffin Cleverly, adopted a 4-year-old son and launched their own tech startup, Northwood Space, which aims to construct ground satellite stations for sending and receiving data from space.

Since their last Cheetah Girls movie in 2008, Raven-Symone and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton have continued to shine in acting roles and hosting gigs. On the other hand, Kiely Williams, a former member of Adrienne’s group 3LW, has followed a slightly different path.

Following her role in The House Bunny in 2008, Kiely secured parts in Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale (2010), Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, and Holla II (both in 2013). She also tied the knot with Brandon “BJ” Cox in December 2016, and Sabrina Bryan, another Cheetah Girls co-star, served as her bridesmaid. In 2017, Kiely reappeared briefly in the public eye, participating in a Celebrity Family Feud episode as part of the Girl Group team along with Sabrina.

Following the broadcast of “Cheetah Girls: One World” in 2008, Sabrina Bryan took on the role of a correspondent for TopMob News during the eighth season of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2009. This was three seasons after she had participated and was eliminated in sixth place. She revisited the ballroom during season 15 in 2012, competing as an All Star. Despite earning perfect scores, she was once again eliminated in sixth position, exactly five years after her initial elimination.

She lent her voice to the Disney Channel animated series “Fish Hooks”, launched a web series with Kiely Williams titled “Dinner With Friends” in 2011, and married strategic accounts manager Jordan Lundberg on October 6, 2018, after nine years of dating. Now, she is reviving the nostalgia from Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOM) with her iHeartPodcast “Magical Rewind” alongside Will Friedle.

Following his role in the beloved 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie “Smart House”, actor Ryan Merriman became a regular face on the network, appearing in “The Luck of the Irish” (2001) and “A Ring of Endless Light” (2002). Subsequently, he delved into more mature projects, featuring in horror films like “Halloween: Resurrection”, “The Ring Two”, and “Final Destination 3”. In 2010, Merriman landed the recurring role of Ian Thomas on “Pretty Little Liars”, appearing in 16 episodes until 2014. He also played a supporting character in the 2013 Jackie Robinson biopic “42”. Currently, his career continues, with roles primarily in independent films.

In 2004, he married Micol Duncan but they parted ways in 2011. On New Year’s Day of 2012, he announced his engagement to Kristen McCullen, and the couple got married in 2014.

From 1999 to 2004, I graced the screens of Disney Channel as one of their beloved stars, appearing in the Zenon trilogy, Johnny Tsunami, and lending my voice to Kim Possible. However, even during this time, I was already embarking on a more mature career path, landing a four-year role with 410 episodes on NBC’s Days of Our Lives starting in 2000.

After attempting to break into prime-time television with a role on the short-lived CBS baseball drama Clubhouse in 2004, I returned to soaps in 2005 as Maxie Jones on ABC’s General Hospital, where I remained until 2023, appearing in over 1,100 episodes!

In 2011, I dipped my toes into reality TV with a short-lived stint on TopMob’s Dirty Soap, which documented the personal lives of soap stars. In August 2013, my General Hospital co-star Brandon Barash and I announced that we had secretly married in June and were expecting our first child in January. Our daughter Harper Rose Barash was born on January 7, 2014. Unfortunately, in April 2016, it was revealed that my husband and I had filed for divorce due to irreconcilable differences.

1998 saw Erik von Dette captivate audiences as the leading star of one of the pioneering Disney Channel Original Movies, titled “Brink!“. Following this success, he became a familiar face in various projects, lending his voice to the popular series “Recess“, playing John Bryant in “The Princess Diaries“, and starring on the Disney Channel’s supernatural series “So Weird” from 1999 to 2001. He also ventured into reality TV, competing on the inaugural celebrity edition of ABC’s “The Mole“. Additionally, he appeared in short-lived shows such as “Dinotopia” and “Complete Savages“. His most recent role was reprising his character, Sid, in “Toy Story 3“, a part he had originated in the Pixar franchise’s debut in 1995.

Currently, he is employed in sales at a financial firm and shares two children with his wife Angela.

After playing the lead role “Phil of the Future” from 2004 to 2006 as Ricky Ullman, Raviv started moving towards more mature roles, appearing in shows like “Big Love” and “House”, with his first credited appearance on “House” being in 2006 under his real name. Following this, he landed a series regular role on the Lifetime comedy “Rita Rocks” from 2008 to 2009. More recent roles include an episode of “Broad City” in 2015 and a recurring part in the web series “Strangers” in 2018. Between 2012 and 2018, he acted in several stage productions and was also the drummer for Zoe Kravitz’s band Lolawolf from 2013 to 2014. In 2022, Raviv informed TopMob News that he had just completed work in San Francisco, where he directed an opera at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

In the year 1999, Kimberly J. Brown gained significant fame by portraying young witch Marnie Piper in the beloved Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) “Halloweentown,” alongside the iconic Debbie Reynolds. The movie was incredibly successful and led to three sequels, but an unusual decision was made in 2006 for “Return to Halloweentown,” where Kimberly was replaced by Sara Paxton. This change is often seen as a less favored choice among fans of the series.

Outside the franchise, her acting roles have been relatively scarce. Some notable appearances include a role in the 2005 film “Be Cool” and episodes on AMC’s short-lived “Low Winter Sun” in 2013. She also starred in 15 episodes of “General Hospital” in 2021 and close to 50 episodes of “Guiding Light.”

Post-graduation, Kimberly established an Etsy shop named CraftilyCreative, where she sells a diverse range of items including Halloweentown-themed merchandise. In 2016, she and coauthor Diane Yslas published a Halloween-themed children’s book titled “Poppin’s Pumpkin Patch Parade.”

Disney enthusiasts were thrilled when Kimberly started dating her “Halloweentown” costar Daniel Kountz, who proposed in 2022.

Between the years 2006 and 2011, Mitchel Musso portrayed Oliver Oken, one of Miley Stewart’s (Miley Cyrus) best friends, on the popular show “Hannah Montana.” As the series was nearing its end, he was on an upward career trajectory within Disney, securing a leading role in the new series “Pair of Kings” and hosting “PrankStars.” However, trouble struck when he was charged with suspicion of driving under the influence while underage—he was 20 years old at the time—during a traffic stop on October 17, 2011. As a result, he was removed from “Pair of Kings” and his prank show was canceled. Post-incident, he focused on independent films and provided voice work for the Disney XD series “Milo Murphy’s Law.”

More recently, in 2023, Musso was arrested in Texas for public intoxication and theft.

Although Jason Earles portrayed Miley Stewart’s older brother Jackson on Hannah Montana (initially scripted as a high school student in season one), it was actually 29-year-old Earles when the series debuted and 34 by its conclusion. Subsequently, he transitioned to Disney XD comedy Kickin’ It, where he played Rudy, a character more fitting for his actual age, until the show ended in March 2015. Since 2018, Earles has been acting on Hotel Du Loone, a Brat series streamed on YouTube. He also joined the third season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. In August 2017, he married his partner Katie Drysen.

After playing younger brother Cory Baxter on That’s So Raven from 2003 to 2007, Kyle Massey went on to secure his own spinoff series, Cory in the House, which aired until 2008. Following this, he made recurring appearances on The Electric Company, guest-starred on shows like Gotham and Being Mary Jane, provided voiceovers for animated series such as Fish Hooks, Mighty Magiswords, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and competed in season 11 of Dancing With the Stars and a 2017 episode of Celebrity Family Feud opposite Jennie Garth.

Rumors about his joining the cast of The Hills: New Beginnings circulated in 2018, but these proved to be false, with Kyle himself labeling them as “fake news.”

In 2021, he was charged with a felony for allegedly engaging in immoral communication with a minor. However, his lawyer stated that the accusations were baseless and extortive, intending to aggressively defend these claims and seek civil damages from those who refuse to consider the facts. The lawyer also expressed hope for an early dismissal of the case.

Following his roles on “Even Stevens” as Twitty from 2000 to 2003 and voicing Josh Mankey in various episodes of “Kim Possible,” A.J. Trauth became a frequent guest star, appearing in episodes of shows like “7th Heaven,” “House,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “CSI,” and “Bones,” among others, up until 2012. Since then, he’s made appearances in several independent films and provided voice work for video games such as “Wolfenstein: The New Order” and its 2017 sequel, “Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.” In February 2014, A.J. proposed to his girlfriend of nearly three years, actress Leah Pipes, and they got married that December. However, their marriage ended by 2019.

Following a three-year stint as the intelligent Ren Stevens on Even Stevens, breathing life into Kim Possible, and acting alongside Hilary Duff in the 2002 DCOM Cadet Kelly, Christy Carlson Romano graced Broadway for a 31-week run in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 2004, portraying Belle. She revisited the theater district in 2008, joining the cast of Avenue Q.

In 2007, she authored a novel, Grace’s Turn, directed a film, Christmas All Over Again, in 2016, earned a degree in Film Studies from Barnard College, and married writer-producer Brendan Rooney on December 31, 2013. The couple have two daughters, the youngest born in February 2019.

She resurfaced on the network that catapulted her to fame in 2019 with a role in the live-action Kim Possible film, portraying pop star Poppy Blu. In May 2019, she shared her struggles post her years as the network’s star in an impactful essay for Teen Vogue. “I was never flawless or put-together as my reputation or my success during my young adulthood might imply,” she admitted. “During a period of my life, I battled depression, substance abuse, and more, searching for ways to cope with how I felt.

In 1999, Brandon Baker first appeared in a DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie) as the lead character of Johnny Tsunami. Following this film, he had occasional roles, including some episodes of Even Stevens and shows like Boston Public and The Unit, while also studying at UC Santa Barbara.

In 2007, he reprised his Disney star role in the sequel, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board. Since then, he has acted in two independent films, one of which, titled The Formula, featured Reginald VelJohnson from Family Matters, and another called Up on the Wooftop, where Dennis Haskins from Saved By the Bell portrayed Santa Claus.

In the year 2001, Alana Austin took the lead role in the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) titled “Motocrossed.” She portrayed Andrea “Andi” Carson, a teenage girl who adores motocross but is forbidden from competing. After her twin brother gets injured before a significant race, she covertly starts racing instead.

After the movie’s release, Austin made appearances in several shows such as “7th Heaven,” “Boston Public,” and “Cold Case.” However, she decided to leave acting completely in 2006. It was said that she studied medicine at USC, but when asked about her current activities on Twitter in April 2016 by a fan, she disclosed that she was focusing on writing. She further mentioned that acting held a special place in her heart.

Ever since I nailed a recurring role in “Phil of the Future,” I found myself becoming a familiar face on the beloved Disney Channel. I graced the screen in DCOMs like “Life is Ruff” and “Read It and Weep,” sharing the limelight with my sister, Danielle Panabaker, and even participating in the inaugural Disney Channel Games in 2006.

I eventually moved on to more mature roles, stepping into the shoes of characters in the 2009 remake of “Fame” and the 2011 ABC series “No Ordinary Family.” However, by 2012, I decided it was time to hang up my acting shoes. Instead, I chose a new path and pursued a degree in zoology at UCLA. By 2016, I could be found working as an animal keeper at none other than Disney’s Animal Kingdom – talk about coming full circle!

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2025-05-01 20:23