Within the wake of the documentary collection “Quiet on Set,” one other former Nickelodeon star is coming ahead to allege they had been a sufferer of sexual abuse.
In an announcement shared on social media, Matthew Underwood, who starred on the sitcom “Zoey 101,” mentioned that whereas he “by no means had a foul expertise” on the set of a Nickelodeon present, he stop performing after being sexually harassed and assaulted by his agent when he was 19.
Underwood didn’t title his former agent however confused that he’s not speaking about his present representatives, who’re “unimaginable people.” After the previous agent “spent a good period of time constructing belief with me as a buddy and mentor,” Underwood mentioned the alleged assault “crushed” his self-image.
“I reported him to the company and he has since been fired – though he’s nonetheless energetic within the business,” Underwood mentioned. “This expertise provoked my transfer away from LA and ended my pursuit of performing.”
Moreover, he alleged he was groomed and molested by his greatest buddy’s stepfather when was 12 years outdated.
Underwood starred as Logan reverse Jamie Lynn Spears on “Zoey 101,” which aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. He additionally appeared within the 2023 sequel film “Zoey 102,” which was launched on Paramount+.
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In his assertion, Underwood mentioned he by no means deliberate to share his story as a result of it’s “none of your online business,” however he did so as a result of he has been inundated with emails calling him a “pedophile defender” for not talking out about “Quiet on Set.” The Investigation Discovery collection detailed alleged misconduct that occurred behind the scenes of Nickelodeon and included “Drake & Josh” star Drake Bell alleging a dialogue coach sexually assaulted him.
However whereas another former Nickelodeon stars have reacted to the documentary because it aired, Underwood urged followers to “contemplate why somebody may not share their experiences publicly and never instantly disgrace them for reserving their proper to privateness.”
“Please, take a second and contemplate that some folks may not be making statements as a result of speaking about this type of factor brings up reminiscences and feelings which might be tough to cope with, and so they have each proper to be silent,” Underwood wrote.
Though “Quiet on Set” delved into allegations of misconduct in opposition to “Zoey 101” creator Dan Schneider, Underwood mentioned he personally “by no means had a foul expertise” with him. However he expressed “excessive empathy” for anybody who has been “taken benefit of by folks they trusted.”
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Underwood’s feedback come after Melissa Joan Hart, who starred on “Clarissa Explains It All,” mentioned on the “Meghan McCain Has Entered The Chat” podcast that she “completely” believes those that got here ahead in “Quiet on Set,” although she didn’t have an identical expertise at Nickelodeon. Former “Kenan & Kel” star Kenan Thompson additionally advised “Tamron Corridor” that whereas he “by no means witnessed” misconduct at Nickelodeon, the community ought to “examine extra” in response to the documentary.
“It is presupposed to be a protected house,” he mentioned. “It is presupposed to be a protected place for youths. To listen to all about that is rather like, ‘How dare you?'”
Nickelodeon beforehand shared in an announcement to USA TODAY, “Although we can not corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions many years in the past, Nickelodeon as a matter of coverage investigates all formal complaints as a part of our dedication to fostering a protected {and professional} office surroundings freed from harassment or different kinds of inappropriate conduct.”
Contributing: Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
In case you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN presents assist by means of the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and on-line.rainn.org).Â
MenHealing supplies assets and providers for grownup males who’ve been sexually victimized throughout childhood or as adults. You may go to their web site for extra data or observe MenHealing on Fb, Instagram or Twitter.