A former actress who shot to fame on the Disney Channel appeared to make an unexpected return to show business in recent days, years after she had seemingly given it up for good.
Bridgit Mendler, who’s best known for appearing on the Disney series Good Luck Charlie! in the early 2010s, had apparently retired from her acting and singing careers, and she hasn’t posted on Instagram in four years.
But her music career seemed to come roaring back to life with the surprise release of a new EP, titled Once Again….
But just as soon as fans started celebrating, Mendler, 33, claimed it was all a mix-up.
‘Sorry to disappoint everyone, the spotify release wasn’t me!’ Mendler said in a post on X on Wednesday.
‘When it is, trust me, you’ll know ;),’ she added.
A former actress who shot to fame on the Disney Channel appeared to make an unexpected return to show business in recent days, years after she had seemingly given it up for good; Lemonade Mouth stars (clockwise from left) Hayley Kiyoko, Naomi Scott, Adam Hicks, Bridgit Mendler, Nick Roux and Black Michael
Bridgit Mendler, best known for appearing on the Disney series Good Luck Charlie! in the early 2010s, had apparently retired from acting and singing, but her music career seemed to come roaring back to life with the surprise release of a new EP, titled Once Again….; seen in 2016
But just as soon as fans started celebrating, Mendler, 33, claimed it was all a mix-up
Her supposed EP is available on all major streaming platforms as of Wednesday night, and appeared to have been released on June 5.
However, the release didn’t appear to start picking up buzz until Wednesday, when social media accounts began posting about it, and Mendler denied that it was her shortly afterward.
So far, streamers including Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal haven’t commented on the allegedly fake release.
Mendler, who has been focused on the tech industry since leaving Hollywood, didn’t clarify if the Once Again… featured songs she recorded that had been released without her permission, or if it was a complete forgery.
However, the vocals sounded similar to her sole full-length album, 2012’s Hello My Name Is…, and multiple online AI music detectors suggest that the songs were created by a human, though the services can be unreliable.
Although Mendler has continued to post sporadically about her exploits in the tech industry in the last two years on X, she had largely stayed out of the public eye for years until February 2024, when she surprised her fans by revealing that she has adopted a four-year-old boy.
Taking to X, where she had last posted in November 2022, Mendler shared the revelation in a heart-warming post alongside a sweet photograph of her husband and son.
She started her career as a child actress at 11 in 2004, with a voice role in the animated film The Legend of Buddha.
Her supposed EP is available on all major streaming platforms as of Wednesday night, and appeared to have been released on June 5; the cover photo is pictured
It’s unclear if the EP features unauthorized tracks recorded by Mendler, or if it is the work of a sound-alike or AI. Mendler has in recent years been working in the tech industry; pictured in 2024 in San Francisco
After going quiet for two years, Mendler revealed in February 2024 that she had adopted a four-year-old boy (pictured in her breakthrough role in Disney Channel’s Good Luck Charlie in 2010)
Taking to X, where she had not posted since November 2022, Mendler shared the revelation in a heart-warming post
Sharing the exciting news of her decision to adopt, she wrote: ‘The other news I wanted to share is I’m a mama to a sweet 4yo boy. Started fostering in 2021 adopted near Christmas of 2022.
‘I’m so lucky –— being a parent is the biggest gift and most defining experience there is. That’s my news for now folks.’
Reacting to the news on X, fans rushed to congratulate Bridgit on her adoption.
One user wrote: ‘You deserve everything in this life and more.’
A second well-wisher added: ‘Congratulations on your journey into motherhood!’
‘Adopting and fostering truly change lives, and that first holiday season as a family is always extra special. Here’s to many more shared sunsets and precious moments.’
Another fan referenced her hit single, Ready Or Not, which was released in 2012.
They commented: ‘An actual queen and MOTHER in every sense. READY OR NOT, we are here to support all of the great things you’re doing.’
She married mechanical engineer Griffin Cleverly in 2019 (picture together), and went on to join him as the CEO of a new start-up company
Reacting to the news on X, fans rushed to congratulate Bridgit on her adoption
A fourth enthused: ‘Congratulations!!!! so happy you chose to be a foster parent!!!!’
Another simply wrote: ‘Congratulations oh my god,’ followed by a pleading face emoji.
Mendler didn’t offer any further details on the adoption, aside from posting a sweet snap of her husband and son on the beach against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset.
The star married mechanical engineer Griffin Cleverly in 2019, and went on to join him as the CEO of a start-up company.
Northwood Space, which landed $6.3 million in seed funding, according to CNBC, was co-founded by Mendler with Griffin – who will serve as Chief Technology Officer – and the business’ Head of Software, Shaurya Luthra.
Mendler revealed that the name of the company comes from a lake in New Hampshire, where the idea for the company first took root while she was spending time with her family there at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘While everybody else was making their sourdough starters, we were building antennas out of random crap we could find at Home Depot . . . and receiving data from [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] satellites,’ she said.
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