Remember Cory Baxter? The kid who was always plotting a get-rich-quick scheme in the kitchen while Raven was busy having psychic seizures? For a whole generation of Disney Channel fans, Kyle Massey was a staple of after-school TV. He wasn't just the annoying little brother; he was the first Disney star to ever get his own spin-off, Cory in the House.
But man, things got complicated.
If you’re looking for cory from that's so raven now, you won't find him on a sitcom set. Life isn't a 22-minute episode with a laugh track. While his on-screen sister Raven-Symoné successfully rebooted the franchise with Raven's Home, Massey’s path took a jagged turn into legal battles, music attempts, and a stint on Dancing with the Stars that feels like a lifetime ago. Honestly, it’s a lot to untangle because his public image has been a rollercoaster of nostalgia and some pretty serious real-world headlines.
The Disney Peak and the Spin-Off Legacy
Kyle Massey was a lightning rod for charisma in the early 2000s. People forget how huge he was. That’s So Raven was the first Disney show to hit the 100-episode mark, and Massey’s character, Cory, was so popular that Disney moved him to Washington D.C. to live in the White House. It sounds absurd now—a teenager living in the basement of the executive mansion—but it worked.
He was the "Money Man."
After the show ended in 2008, he didn't just disappear. He actually did quite well for a while. He finished as the runner-up on Season 11 of Dancing with the Stars. He voiced Milo in the animated series Fish Hooks. He was arguably one of the most successful Disney alumni who didn't pivot into a mainstream pop music career like Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez. He stayed in his lane as a comedic actor and voice talent.
Legal Struggles and Personal Turmoil
This is where the story gets heavy. You can't talk about cory from that's so raven now without mentioning the legal cloud that hung over his head starting around 2021. Massey was charged in Washington state with one count of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.
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The allegations were serious. They involved a girl he reportedly met through his music career.
He denied everything. His legal team argued that the claims were part of an extortion plot. For years, the case moved through the court system, stalling and then picking back up. It’s the kind of situation that effectively freezes a career in Hollywood. Casting directors aren't exactly lining up to hire someone with an active felony case, no matter how much people loved them as a kid. Eventually, in 2023, Massey missed a court appearance, leading to an arrest warrant. He eventually surrendered to authorities, and the legal proceedings continued to drain his public standing.
It’s a far cry from the kid trying to sell "Cory Cards" to his classmates.
The Music Pivot and Independent Projects
Before the legal drama peaked, Massey was heavily invested in his music. He worked with his brother, Christopher Massey (who played Zoey’s friend Chase on Zoey 101), on various projects. They were a duo. They did the "It’s a Massey Party" thing.
But music is a tough pivot for child stars.
Unless you have the backing of a major label or a viral TikTok hit, you're basically shouting into a void. Massey tried to maintain a presence on YouTube and social media, sharing clips of his lifestyle and snippets of new tracks. However, the engagement often turned into a graveyard of comments asking about the legal cases or begging him to return to Raven's Home.
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Speaking of Raven's Home, his absence from that show speaks volumes. Almost everyone else came back or at least did a guest spot. Anneliese van der Pol (Chelsea) was a lead for seasons. Even their TV dad, Rondell Sheridan, returned as Victor Baxter. But Cory? Cory was written off as still being in D.C. or traveling.
The bridge seemed burned, or at least under heavy construction.
Why We Still Care About the Baxter Family
There's this weird thing with nostalgia. We want our childhood stars to be okay because it validates our own memories. When we see cory from that's so raven now, we’re looking for a piece of 2005 that still feels safe.
Kyle Massey was part of the "Golden Era" of the Disney Channel. That era gave us Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, and The Suite Life. Seeing a member of that fraternity struggle with serious real-world accusations is jarring. It breaks the fourth wall of our childhood.
Recent Life and 2026 Status
As of 2026, Massey has mostly stepped back from the limelight. His social media presence is sporadic. He isn't the face of any major network shows anymore. Most of his time has been spent navigating the fallout of his legal issues and trying to maintain a semblance of a private life.
There were rumors of him trying to get into the tech space or reality TV, but nothing has stuck with the same glue as his Disney days. He’s a reminder that the "child star to adult actor" pipeline is incredibly fragile. One wrong turn—or one serious allegation—and the pipeline bursts.
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Understanding the Difference Between the Character and the Actor
We have to separate Cory Baxter from Kyle Massey.
Cory Baxter is a fictional character who probably owns a successful chain of restaurants or is running for local office in the Disney universe. He’s frozen in time. Kyle Massey is a 34-year-old man who has lived a very public life with very public mistakes and challenges.
A lot of fans struggle with this. They see the face and they expect the jokes. But the reality is much more somber.
If you're looking for a comeback story, it hasn't happened yet. Some people think he could eventually find a path back through independent film or a reality show focused on "faded stars," but the industry is less forgiving than it used to be. The internet doesn't forget.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Observers
If you’re following the story of cory from that's so raven now, here is how to navigate the information:
- Check the Sources: When reading about his legal cases, stick to official court records or reputable news outlets like the Associated Press or Variety. Tabloid rumors often mix old news with new speculation.
- Respect the Distinction: Understand that the actors we grew up with are human beings. Their choices off-screen don't erase the entertainment they provided, but they do change how we consume their new work.
- Focus on the Present: If you want to support Massey, look for his verified social media handles where he shares his current ventures, but be aware that his public profile remains deeply complicated.
- Binge the Classics: If you just want the nostalgia, That's So Raven and Cory in the House are both streaming on Disney+. It’s okay to enjoy the character while acknowledging the actor’s current reality is different.
The story of Kyle Massey is still being written, but it serves as a cautionary tale and a complex look at what happens when the cameras stop rolling on a "perfect" Disney life. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s definitely not a sitcom.