‘Cheetah Girls 4’ Receiving Backlash Over Mixed Cast

Millennial Disney Channel fans are in for a Cheeetahlicious treat, as the network recently announced the fourth installment in “The Cheetah Girls” franchise. According to several new reports and Raven-Symoné herself, the upcoming film, dubbed “Next Gen,” has been greenlit at Disney and will air on the network and Disney+ in the coming months. And while the news that a beloved classic will be adding another film to the archives almost 20 years after the last movie stirred excitement among some, others have voiced their disapproval about the project, pointing out that the new wave of Cheetah Girls differs vastly from the original lineup.

The party’s just begun, because according to Deadline, Symoné and Adrienne Bailon are headed back to the small screen to star in the next “Cheetah Girls” movie. Their bandmate, Sabrina Bryan, will make a special appearance in the film, while Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter will reprise their roles as Symoné and Bailon’s fictional mothers.

“The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen” is executive produced by Symoné and Debra Martin Chase and will feature a younger cast of talented performers, including Leah Sava Jeffries, Carmen Sanchez, Kaileen Chang, Sophie Lennon, and Kamogelo Ramashala.

What’s The Next ‘Cheetah Girls’ Film Even About?

Per the press release, the next “Cheetah Girls” flick will follow Symoné and Bailon’s characters, Galleria and Chanel, as they travel to Africa to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary. While there, Symoné’s daughter, Jeffries, and Bailon’s sister, Sanchez, along with their friends, “find their voice and discover the true Cheetah spirit as they save the preserve and ultimately take the stage as the new Cheetah Girls.”

“The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen” follows the first three films, “The Cheetah Girls,” “The Cheetah Girls 2,” and “The Cheetah Girls: One World,” and is originally based on the book series by Deborah Gregory.

“The Cheetah Girls has always been about friendship, music, and empowering young people to use their voice,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “That spirit connected deeply with a generation of fans, and it still resonates today. Bringing this dynamic new group of young stars to the franchise allows us to continue that legacy for a new era of kids and families.”

Symoné Teases The Upcoming Film With A Special Post On Instagram

Symoné teased the fourth installment with an Instagram post, writing, “It’s happening, and it’s CHEETAHLICIOUS!” Over top of the clip, Symoné added the text, “POV: strutting to the set of ‘The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen.’”

In the social post, Symoné is seen walking around different parts of Africa with a big smile on her face. Others appeared to show the 40-year-old on the movie’s set, and one in particular showed the “That’s So Raven” alum posing with a cheetah.

Her clip has secured nearly 200,000 likes and a handful of comments, with one saying, “OMG, we all knew, but now it’s official. So happy… Wishing all the 4 OGs to return, but I’m OK with only Raven and Adrienne, though.”

Some Fans Are Having A Negative Reaction To The New ‘Cheetah Girls’

Some other users, however, aren’t as excited as the one above, as many rushed to different platforms, claiming that the network was attempting to “whitewash” the group, which originally featured three Black women and one white woman.

“If you read the books, them girls [are] BLACK. Don’t p-ss me off,” someone wrote on Instagram. “Nope. Keep black things blackly black,” another posted.

“It’s a book about black girls by a black author,” a third wrote. “It really is that deep.” A fourth chimed in with, “Unpopular Opinion: We don’t need the iconic things from previous generations to be remade for the current generation. They don’t even value it the same (no fault of their own).”

Bailon Previously Told The Blast She’d Be Up For Another Film

In September 2025, Bailon spoke with The Blast about possibly returning for a fourth film and said she was more than open to the idea.

“I would never say never,” she said. “I’m a never-say-never kind of girl.” However, for her to return, it had to be perfect.

“Definitely not saying no, but it would just have to be done right. I think that, and I am the kind of girl [who has] franchises that I’m a huge fan of, and I would hate for them to ruin it,” she added.