Skai Jackson is making it known that when it comes to her finances, even friends and family don’t get special treatment.
During an interview with Justin Laboy shared on Thursday (May 21), the actress was asked how she finds the “strength” to turn down requests for money from people close to her.
“I just say no,” she said around the 28:45 mark of the interview, explaining that the conversation typically ends there. “If you just say no, there’s no response. … It’s just like, ‘Oh, well, she said no. Okay.’”
When Justin Laboy mentioned that he usually tries to “meet people halfway,” Skai Jackson quickly disagreed.
“You can’t do that,” she told him before adding, “People real close to me, like my best, best friends, they have never even asked me for money.”
Jackson also shared that people she hasn’t spoken to in years suddenly reach out asking for favors.
“People that I haven’t heard from in years are like, ‘Oh, my card’s not working. Can you get me an Uber?’ I’m like, ‘No, you should have thought about that,’” she explained. “Someone did reach out. They were like, ‘My brother’s not answering. Can you call me an Uber, and I need some food?’ I said, ‘That’s not my problem.’”
The 24-year-old rose to fame during the 2010s playing Zuri Ross on the Disney Channel comedy series Jessie before reprising the role in the spin-off Bunk’d. She also lent her voice to projects in the Marvel Rising franchise and DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders, and later appeared in the 2023 film Sheroes.
Back in 2019, Jackson released her memoir Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback. She also welcomed her son, Kasai, in January 2025 with her then-boyfriend Deondre Burgin.
