Keke Palmer recently reflected on her early career and shed light on her experiences 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 fame.

Keke Palmer reflects on her breakthrough roles

“What put Keke Palmer on the map as a booom was Real Jackson, Vice President. My life changed after that, honey,” the actress shared, citing her Nickelodeon series as a major turning point.

Palmer also reminisced about her role on Disney Channel’s Jump in. Claudia Oshry noted the rarity of actors combining work with both networks, prompting Palmer to contrast the two entertainment giants.

“Disney is really great when it comes to not only the stories you see on screen, but the stories within the company,” Palmer said. “They are literally a whole universe, and I think that feels really good as a kid because the magic doesn’t end.”

She explained how Disney creates a sense of connection 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-oriented. She acknowledged the great financial benefits of the network, saying, “Their payment was really great.” However, the overall environment was different.

“It was like, ‘Come in and get this check.’ It wasn’t about necessarily making it exciting,” she explained.

A standout memory for Palmer involved the network’s signature slime. “We were doing a big promotion, and they cut me down so many times. I was in my weaving era and it was a mess. I spent hours under the dryer, just to lose weight again. Honey, I hated that slime after that. It was too much.”