Drew Roy Reflects on Hannah Montana Amid Miley Cyrus Controversy
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Hannah Montana star Drew Roy is not letting the surrounding drama about Miley Cyrus‘ 20th anniversary special overshadow his excitement for the occasion — even if Cyrus tossed some shade his way.
“Twenty years? It’s hard to wrap my head around it,” Roy, 39, shared in a video posted on Instagram on April 1. “Though when I look at my face, it all makes sense. I just had to come on and say thank you. These past couple of weeks leading up to the Hannah-versary have been so thrilling; seeing everyone again took me down memory lane.”
Roy is well-known for his role as Jesse, Cyrus’ romantic interest in seasons 3 and 4 of Hannah Montana, which aired from 2006 to 2011 on Disney Channel. Jesse was the guitarist in Hannah Montana’s band, who eventually developed feelings for the pop star. At the time, Hannah/Miley Stewart (Cyrus) was involved with Jake Ryan (Cody Linley), which set off one of Disney’s most memorable love triangles.
While Hannah/Miley initially picked Jake—much to the dismay of fans, considering he had a history of cheating—they ultimately broke up, paving the way for her romance with Jesse in the show’s final episodes.
Cyrus, now 33, celebrated the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana last month with a Disney+ special, during which “Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper urged her to finally pick between Team Jake or Team Jesse. Cyrus chose Jake, noting that Linley, 36, “always” had kind words for her in interviews, while she hadn’t heard from Roy at all. Linley was present at the Hannah Montana red carpet event, but Roy was notably absent.
Roy’s wife, Renee Gardner, quickly addressed rumors surrounding her husband’s absence from the red carpet.
“In case anyone has been wondering about Jesse. To say that Drew having this opportunity was amazing is an understatement,” Gardner shared on Instagram. “He loves being on set. He’s collaborated with some exceptional individuals and made lifelong friendships. Life happened though. We got married, had kids, and while we love L.A. and all it offers, we also sought a quieter life. So, we relocated to a place where our boys can enjoy their cousins, play outdoors with great neighbors and just live normally.”
Gardner also reportedly “liked” social media comments that criticized Cyrus for seemingly calling out Roy’s absence from the special.
“I didn’t appreciate her comments about him,” wrote one fan, while another added, “Miley’s just envious because he’s happy.”
Although Roy did not respond directly to Gardner’s remarks, he expressed his appreciation for being part of Hannah Montana.
“I don’t think people realize I came from a small town in the South and got this incredible opportunity,” he recounted on Wednesday. “Playing Jesse on Hannah Montana with such great talent like Miley, Emily [Osment], and the whole cast was amazing. They are truly hilarious.”
Roy continued, “I just want to express my gratitude; I feel like I’ve experienced the best of both worlds. That time in L.A. was unforgettable, and now, I’m married.”
According to Roy, he watched the Disney+ special with his “wonderful wife.”
“I was sharing all the behind-the-scenes stories with her,” Roy said. “We have two fantastic kids. My kids’ friends adore Hannah Montana. The show’s legacy continues.”
Roy, who now works as an airline pilot, expressed how incredible it is to see Cyrus’ career continue to flourish since their days at Disney.
Hannah Montana: 20th Anniversary Special is now streaming on Hulu and Disney.
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