Raven gets paid for 30th birthday bash
IS RAVEN-SYMONE the new Star Jones? Panel seat on “The View?” Check. Asking for freebies because she’s on TV? Check. The former child star’s camp sent out an email, obtained by Confidenti@l, asking for brands to take part in Raven’s upcoming birthday party. She turns 30 on Dec. 10.
The email reads: “We are producing gift bags for Raven-Symone’s upcoming birthday party in December. This intimate gathering will be held in Los Angeles, where Raven’s close friends and family will come out to celebrate. We’re providing social media thank you’s across Raven’s social accounts (reaching a combined 6M+ following) and a photo of Raven in front of the gift bag display table with all items.” “It’s the new gifting suite,” one source tells us. “They’re going for brands to pay money to be in front of her fans. They’ve put together her social media numbers and they’re paying for the opportunity to get a photo and social media from Raven, who will get a large percentage. Each brand will pay about $1,500.
“The brands will be integrated into the party,” says our source. “So they get a picture of her with their product and on her Instagram and Twitter, and Raven makes money off her own party.” Raven loves her own birthday — when she turned 21, she threw herself a bash at Tao nightclub at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.
What’s shocking is that she seems to be following in the footsteps of former “View” co-host Jones, who got in trouble with Barbara Walters and eventually booted off the show in 2006. Jones’ wedding included thousands of dollars worth of freebies for her 2004 nups to investment banker Al Reynolds .At the time she had asked, and gotten, beauty brands to pay upward of $4,500 to sponsor the big day.
Perhaps Raven needs the cash — despite ABC denying it, recent reports say Raven is on her way out of “The View” and that chatfest has already found her replacement for when the show returns from winter hiatus.
A rep for Raven could not be reached for comment.