Keke Palmer recently reflected on her early career, shedding light on her experiences working with Disney and Nickelodeon. During an interview on The Toast podcast with Claudia and Jackie Oshry, Palmer highlighted the roles that shaped her rise to stardom.
Keke Palmer Reflects on Her Breakthrough Roles
“The thing that put Keke Palmer on the map like boooom, was True Jackson, VP. My life was changed after that, honey,” the actress shared, crediting her Nickelodeon series as a major turning point.
Palmer also reminisced about her role in Disney Channel’s Jump In. Claudia Oshry noted the rarity of actors balancing work with both networks, which prompted Palmer to contrast the two entertainment giants.
“Disney is really amazing when it comes to, not only the storytelling you see on screen, but the storytelling within the company,” Palmer said. “They are literally like a whole universe, and I think that feels really good when you’re a kid because the magic doesn’t end.”
She explained how Disney creates a sense of belonging for its stars, describing it as an environment where “you feel like, ‘I need to be here.’ It’s something you want to be a part of.”
While Palmer praised Disney for its immersive atmosphere, her experience with Nickelodeon felt more business-focused. She acknowledged the network’s strong financial benefits, saying, “Their paying was really awesome.” However, the overall environment was different.
“It was kind of like ‘Come in and get this check.’ It wasn’t about making it necessarily exciting,” she explained.
One standout memory for Palmer involved the network’s signature slime. “We were doing this big promotional thing, and they slimed me so many times. I was in my weave era, and it was a mess. I sat under the dryer for hours, just to get slimed again. Honey, I hated that slime after that. It was too much.”