Current:Home > Scams'Zoey 101' star Matthew Underwood says he quit acting after agent sexually assaulted him-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
'Zoey 101' star Matthew Underwood says he quit acting after agent sexually assaulted him
View Date:2024-12-23 19:47:47
In the wake of the documentary series "Quiet on Set," another former Nickelodeon star is coming forward to allege they were a victim of sexual abuse.
In a statement shared on social media, Matthew Underwood, who starred on the sitcom "Zoey 101," said that while he "never had a bad experience" on the set of a Nickelodeon show, he quit acting after being sexually harassed and assaulted by his agent when he was 19.
Underwood did not name his former agent but stressed that he is not talking about his current representatives, who are "incredible humans." After the former agent "spent a decent amount of time building trust with me as a friend and mentor," Underwood said the alleged assault "crushed" his self-image.
"I reported him to the agency and he has since been fired - although he is still active in the industry," Underwood said. "This experience provoked my move away from LA and ended my pursuit of acting."
Additionally, he alleged he was groomed and molested by his best friend's stepfather when was 12 years old.
Underwood starred as Logan opposite Jamie Lynn Spears on "Zoey 101," which aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. He also appeared in the 2023 sequel movie "Zoey 102," which was released on Paramount+.
Melissa Joan Hartexpresses solidarity with Nickelodeon child stars in 'Quiet on Set' docuseries
In his statement, Underwood said he never planned to share his story because it is "none of your business," but he did so because he has been inundated with emails calling him a "pedophile defender" for not speaking out about "Quiet on Set." The Investigation Discovery series detailed alleged misconduct that occurred behind the scenes of Nickelodeon and included "Drake & Josh" star Drake Bell alleging a dialogue coach sexually assaulted him.
But while some other former Nickelodeon stars have reacted to the documentary since it aired, Underwood urged fans to "consider why someone might not share their experiences publicly and not immediately shame them for reserving their right to privacy."
"Please, take a moment and consider that some people might not be making statements because talking about this kind of thing brings up memories and emotions that are difficult to deal with, and they have every right to be silent," Underwood wrote.
Although "Quiet on Set" delved into allegations of misconduct against "Zoey 101" creator Dan Schneider, Underwood said he personally "never had a bad experience" with him. But he expressed "extreme empathy" for anyone who has been "taken advantage of by people they trusted."
Why 'Quiet on Set' documentaryon Nickelodeon scandal exposes the high price of kids TV
Underwood's comments come after Melissa Joan Hart, who starred on "Clarissa Explains It All," said on the "Meghan McCain Has Entered The Chat" podcast that she "absolutely" believes those who came forward in "Quiet on Set," though she did not have a similar experience at Nickelodeon. Former "Kenan & Kel" star Kenan Thompson also told "Tamron Hall" that while he "never witnessed" misconduct at Nickelodeon, the network should "investigate more" in response to the documentary.
"It's supposed to be a safe space," he said. "It's supposed to be a safe place for kids. To hear all about that is just like, 'How dare you?'"
Nickelodeon previously shared in a statement to USA TODAY, "Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct."
Contributing: Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org).
MenHealing provides resources and services for adult males who have been sexually victimized during childhood or as adults. You can visit their website for more information or follow MenHealing on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
veryGood! (65561)
Related
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- Utah man accused of selling silver product as COVID-19 cure arrested after 3-year search
- Man charged in connection with several bombings in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Deja Taylor, Virginia mother whose 6 year old son shot teacher Abby Zwerner pleads guilty
- 32 things we learned in NFL Week 10: Who will challenge for NFC throne?
- Cleveland Browns star DE Myles Garrett leaves practice early with foot injury
- What happens when thousands of hackers try to break AI chatbots
- West Virginia Public Broadcasting chief steps down in latest shakeup at news outlet
- A $1 billion proposal is the latest plan to refurbish and save the iconic Houston Astrodome
- Spain scores late to edge Sweden 2-1 in World Cup semifinal
Ranking
- Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says he was detained in airport over being ‘disoriented’
- Biden weighs in on UAW, Detroit automaker contract negotiations with suggested demands
- Spain vs. Sweden: Time, odds, how to watch and live stream 2023 World Cup semifinal
- The man accused of locking a woman in a cinder block cell in Oregon has an Oct. 17 trial date
- Vikings' Camryn Bynum celebrates game-winning interception with Raygun dance
- Running mate for Aaron Rodgers: Dalvin Cook agrees to deal with New York Jets
- Toyota, Chrysler among nearly 270,000 vehicles recalled last week: Check car recalls here.
- A comedian released this parody Eurodance song — and ignited an internet storm
Recommendation
-
Trump pledged to roll back protections for transgender students. They’re flooding crisis hotlines
-
China arrests military industry worker on accusations of spying for the CIA
-
The Surprising Moment Tom Pelphrey Learned Girlfriend Kaley Cuoco Starred in The Big Bang Theory
-
Why Rachel Bilson’s 8-Year-Old Daughter Has Bad Blood After Leaving Taylor Swift Concert Early
-
Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon quit X, formerly Twitter: 'Time for me to leave'
-
Facial recognition? How about tail recognition? Identifying individual humpback whales online
-
Deja Taylor, Virginia mother whose 6 year old son shot teacher Abby Zwerner pleads guilty
-
7-year-old South Carolina girl hit by stray shotgun pellet; father and son charged