FELLOW DISNEY ALUM SLAMS JOE JONAS

Joe Jonas penned an essay where he discussed — at length — his feelings about and experiences with his former employer Disney and the reasons that he and the Jonas Brothers parted ways with the conglomerate. A fellow Disney alum has taken Jonas to task for his comments.

Double J explained that he felt being signed to the massive corporation stifled him creatively. He also dimed out Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato for introducing him to pot. It sounded like a case of biting a hand that fed him very well over the years. He came across as a tad bitter, as well.

Disney alum Dylan Sprouse, who starred in ‘The Suite Life of Zack & Cody’ with his twin brother Cole, weighed in on the Disney experience and called out Jonas for his comments.

Sprouse, 21, posted the following note on his Tumblr.

I was wondering if you happened to read/see Joe Jonas’s essay for New York Magazine. A shorter version can be found on E!’s website if you’re interested. But basically Joe talks about the things we don’t see that go on behind the scenes at Disney and explained the pressures that were put on him and his brothers. Many things he talked about were shocking and I was wondering if you agreed with him or had any thoughts of your own on the subject

I read the article and I have a couple things to say. Most formally the idea that Disney
and the corporations “gentrified them.”

First, I think it’s bulls–t that they were being robbed of choice or creativity. If they wanted too, they could have told Disney “NO”. Cole and I did this hundreds of times and we ended up all right. The only reason they didn’t is because, like many of the people on that channel, I think they fell for the allure of fame. Granted, Cole and I had been acting our entire lives, so we saw it as a means to an end (money making) rather than an opportunity to become successful.

Nowadays artists just assume they have to do what they are told by their proprietors because there is a “rigid structure to achievement”. It is nothing more than a scheme to rob you of your individuality and capitalise the gain they acquire from such treachery. If you believe this, not only are you incredibly foolish, but you are a BAD ARTIST. Individuality is modernity’s most interesting trait regarding artwork and so so many talented individuals realize this. You do not have to become something else to be successful. Not only is it not too late for them to redefine themselves now, it was never too late.

What that article felt like was: “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, still shame on you.”

My personal creed? “Fool me once, you’ll forever regret that decision.”

The Sprouse brothers moved on from Disney, as well, but they have no ill will towards a company which spawns stars who either flourish or don’t outside of the Disney confines. It’s also clear that the Bros. Sprouse made their money from the company in order to pad their nest egg, as opposed to chasing further fame, which can be a cruel mistress.

Team Jonas or Team Sprouse?