Skai Jackson's journey from Disney star to scandal-ridden actress (2024)

When Skai Jackson joined the cast of Disney Channel's Jessie at only nine years old, the young starlet captured the hearts of millions thanks to her charming personality and adorable looks.

The show's success turned Skai into a massive sensation practically overnight, and left many wondering if she would follow in the footsteps of Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, or Zendaya to become the next Disney darling.

But in the years after the show came to an end, Skai quickly shed her wholesome image by becoming embroiled in a slew of scandals - ranging from a nasty public feud with a famous rapper to accusations that she 'scammed' her own fans.

Most recently, it was reported that the actress, 22, had been arrested fordomestic battery after she got into an alleged physical altercation with her boyfriend.

In addition, sources told TMZ following the alleged arrest that the former child star was pregnant with her first baby.

While Skai is certainly not the first former Disney star to have a run-in with the law, her quick rise to the top and dramatic fall from grace is one that is certainly unique.

She first found herself at the center of controversy in 2014 after she became embroiled in an extremely public fallout with her Jessie costar, Debby Ryan.

At the time, a fan claimed that Skai was posting a slew of horrific messages about the actress on a private account; and when Debby found out, she branded Skai as 'insecure,' 'bitter,' and 'unprofessional' in a scathing post.

The dramatic feud left diehard fans of the show divided, and unfortunately, it wasn't the only bitter spat that Skai got involved in.

Years later, she and rapper Bhad Bhabie came to blows online after Skai confessed that she wanted to date the musician's ex-boyfriend.

Skai has also been slammed for being extremely outspoken, particularly when she began 'exposing racists' on her X account in 2020 amid the Black Lives Matterprotests.

While some applauded her for her actions, others were furious, pointing out that she was sharing personal information of people as young as 12 years old.

The Jessie star was also publicly bashed after she decided to host a raffle for her followers in 2023, and charged an entry fee that some felt was too high.

At the time, she was accused of 'scamming' her fans and using the money for herself, which she fiercely denied.

It's certainly been a rollercoaster ride for Skai, and as she'sthrown back into headlines thanks to her arrest and pregnancy, FEMAIL has recapped her tumultuous journey from start to finish for you.

Here's how she went from innocent Disney child star to a scandal-ridden actress.

Skai's meteoric rise to top Disney starlet: The actress skyrocketed into the spotlight after she was cast in the kids' show Jessie at age nine

Skai, who grew up in Staten Island in New York City, started her career off as a child model, posing for brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Old Navy.

At age five, she made her acting debut in the independent movie Liberty Kid, which was followed by a slew of small roles in shows like Royal Pains, Boardwalk Empire, and the film The Smurfs.

But in 2011, she was skyrocketed into the spotlight after she was cast as Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel show Jessie.

It was a massive success, airing for four seasons and transforming Skai into a huge star practically overnight.

And after it concluded in 2015, she went on to star in its spinoff show Bunk'd for three more years.

But after that came to an end, her career slowed down significantly.

She voicedGlory Grant in the animated series Marvel Rising for a few episodes and appeared in the film Sheroes, but didn't act in much else.

She also released her own book, entitledReach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback, and competed in the 29th season of Dancing With the Stars, in which she placed 10th.

The controversial feud with Debby Ryan that began her downfall: Skai was accused of lashing out at her costar on her private X account

While starring in Jessie, Skai and her costar, Debby, became entangled in an extremely public feud that divided the show's fans.

It all started in 2014 when an eagle-eyed social media user noticed that Skai had unfollowed Debby on X, formerly Twitter, and called her 'rude' for it.

But Skai responded by publicly lashing out at Debby; she fired back, 'No, I'm not rude to her. It's the other way around.'

Weeks later, a fan appeared to reach out to Debby via Tumblrand claimed that Skai had posted a slew of nasty messages about the actress on a private X account.

The fan also alleged that Skai was spreading rumors that Debby 'did drugs,' which left the actress furious.

In Debby's apparent response, she branded the then 12-year-old as 'insecure,' 'bitter,' and 'unprofessional' in a scathing post about the situation.

'I mean, if I was 12, I probably would be insecure about the lead of the show I'm supporting on,' the response said.

'Not to mention if she was the concept, a producer, and one of the directors with the most assignment requests.

'When I hired the cast, I knew they were going to grow into the double digits, and then become preteens and teenagers by the end, and that's a rough age. Especially in this industry. I would know.'

Debby added that she was 'proud of the work' she had done with the show's crew to ensure the set was 'the most joyful possible place to grow up.'

She continued, 'I won't speak on specific people, because it's unprofessional to slander coworkers online, but if I had one wish for every child that's an actor – especially those that tend to be the mouthpiece for parental maliciousness – I'd wish for complete contentment, emotional security, and that they'd somehow find the joy in telling stories.

'Also I do not have time to do drugs I work three jobs.'

By 2020, however, the actresses seemed to have put the drama behind them as they came together for a virtual Jessie reunion.

More public drama: Skai became embroiled in a very public fight with Bhad Bhabie that resulted in her taking out a restraining order against the rapper

Skai also got into a very public fight with Bhad Bhabie in early 2020, which began after the former Disney star admitted that she was interested in the rapper's ex-boyfriend.

The bitter row erupted after Skai wrote in an Instagram comment that she thoughtNBA YoungBoy, who dated Bhad Bhabie in 2019, was 'so fine' and asked 'somebody' to 'hook them up.'

Skai's post caught Bhad Bhabie's attention, and she was furious.

'This Disney thot wanna play? OK baby, let's play then,' she replied on her Instagram Stories afterwards.

She added in another post, 'Unblock me you trifling a** h** and send ya addy while you at it.'

On an Instagram Live days later, Bhad Bhabie - whose real name isDanielle Peskowitz Bregol - said she was going to 'kill' Skai and claimed the former Disney star was 'obsessed with her.'

Skai didn't publicly address the drama, however she did post a tweet highlighting all the things that were going well in her life, adding, 'No time for negatives.'

'So y'all telling me it's OK for someone to play the innocent role in front the main crowd but in real life they making finsta accounts to talk bad about people they try and be like so bad,' Bhad Bhabie said in another post seemingly about Skai days later.

'This b***h got issues. Stop believing that this b***h is innocent.'

Skai then took out a restraining order out against Bhad Bhabie, stating that the rapper's 'harassment' had 'caused her to be fearful of leaving her house by herself.'

Bhad Bhabie checked into rehab soon after, and Skai dropped the restraining order.

'Because Danielle stopped threatening me after the court ordered her to do so, and now that she's made the decision to work on herself through rehab and therapy, I'm pleased that I don't need to extend my restraining order,' Skai told TMZ afterwards.

'If she goes back to her old ways, of course, we'll have to change that, but I hope and believe that it won't be necessary.

'I think it's great that Danielle is getting the help she feels she needs. I wish her nothing but the best on her road to recovery.'

Dividing the internet with her outspoken nature: Skai spent months 'exposing racists' on X, which some applauded and others slammed

Skai became the center of controversy once again in July 2020 after she started 'exposing racists' online.

The actress asked her fans to send her screenshots of people saying or doing things that were racist, and she would then share their information online with her hundreds of thousands of followers.

'If you know a racist, don't be shy. Tweet me the receipts,' she wrote in one post.

In another she said, 'During this sensitive time, I've seen horrific statements and social media videos made by some Caucasian teens/young adults.

'Let me say this: If I see you post it, I WILL expose you. If you think you're big and bad enough to say it, I will most definitely put your own words on blast.'

Not only would Skai include their social media accounts, but sometimes she'd even contact the schools that they attended.

And while many praised her for her actions, some people slammed her.

'Was Skai Jackson right in doxxing children for using the N-word in a joking manner?' one person asked on an online forum.

'[It] lead to plenty of them getting suspended and their parents losing their job.'

'Thisdeeply saddens me. Jessie used to be a show my sister loved and I remember thinking that Skai Jackson's character was hilarious from the couple clips that I watched,' someone else replied.

'She is releasing the private information of Twitter users who have been proven as young as 12 years of age.

'She is doing so under the guise of her "exposing racists" by using one tweet or a three-second clip of white boys using the n-word without any context whatsoever and posting their other social media profiles, the school they attend, and THEIR PHONE NUMBERS.'

'[She's] using her influence to hurt people, very often teenagers and children, for perceived wrongs, potentially exposing them and their family to danger under the pretense of doing what’s right and keeping people in line,' another user scathed.

Actress Yvette Nicole Brown weighed in on the situation, and she said she was 'so proud' of Skai for the 'good work' she was doing.

'I am so proud of you @SkaiJackson. The good work you're doing exposing all these "baby" racists will ensure that their names, faces, and deeds will be known as they enter the work force down the line,' she wrote.

'Which will protect everyone from the havoc racists cause in the workplace.'

Accused of scamming her own fans: Skai was ferociously slammed online after she hosted a raffle and charged a $5 entry fee

Skai was ferociously slammed online in 2023 after she announced that she was hosting a raffle that would see one winner receive a free MacBook.

But the star charged a $5 entry fee - and many people on the web felt like the cost was too high.

Some users even accused her of using the money for herself, but she shut these rumors down during a TikTok live.

'It is not that serious, for a damn $5. It is called a raffle, I don't know if you guys have been to school before but I know I've been to school and we used to have raffles all the time,' she said in response to the backlash.

'The money goes toward the prize, and like I said, if there's anything left over I'm doing a second giveaway soon. So that's what it's going towards.

'Me personally, I do not need money. And I'm not saying this in a bragging way or anything like that, or in a mean way.

'I'm just letting you guys know I do not personally need money. Like I am very fine in my life.'

Her run-in with the law: Skai wasarrested for domestic battery following an alleged fight with her boyfriend - who she is reportedly expecting a baby with

Earlier this week, reports emerged that Skai had beenarrested for domestic battery following an alleged fight with her boyfriend.

TMZ reported that she was taken into custody on August 9 at Universal Citywalk in Hollywood, California.

According to the publication, security detained her and her boyfriend after seeing them get into an altercation, and called the police.

Law enforcement then reportedly decided to arrest Skai and her partner after seeing footage of the altercation, which allegedly showed the Disney star pushing him twice.

Sources told the publication that the couple denied that they physically fought to authorities, and claimed they were actually engaged and expecting a baby together.

Skai was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery, and was cited before being released hours later.

Charges were not immediately brought against the former child star, and the incident is under investigation by the LA County District Attorney's Office.

It is unclear who Skai's partner is, but she shared a selfie with a mystery man to her Snapchat on Monday, three days after her reported arrest.

She has not publicly acknowledged the pregnancy rumors.