Elizabeth Gilles, Ariana Grande, and More React to Quiet on Set

As a seasoned observer of Hollywood and its intricate dynamics, I find it deeply heartening to see these former cast members and crew members of Nickelodeon shows stand up against the alleged abuses that have been brought to light by the “Quiet on Set” documentary. Their experiences in the industry, particularly with Dan Schneider, have shaped their lives and perspectives in profound ways.

Previous cast members of Nickelodeon are expressing their sentiments following Investigation Discovery’s troubling documentary series, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV“. With recent disclosures that a dialogue coach sexually abused Drake Bell and accusations against producer Dan Schneider for writing inappropriate jokes for child actors to deliver, former Nickelodeon stars have either offered words of comfort to survivors or apologized (for the second time) for belittling survivors’ experiences. The four-part series delves into Nickelodeon, examining instances of child abuse by crew members, sexual innuendos in Schneider’s shows, and claims that he created hostile work environments on his numerous productions. It also sheds light on Bell, who openly discusses in on-camera interviews how he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by his dialogue coach, Brian Peck, while working at the network. Actors from shows like “All That” and “The Amanda Show” have also expressed their discomfort on sets, with Alexa Nikolas adding her voice to this in a 2022 expose’ of Schneider.

Amid the disclosures of abuse, Devon Werkheiser, a colleague of Nickelodeon and star of “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” first ridiculed Bell’s testimony on TikTok, but later apologized for his behavior. Here’s what the network’s stars have commented about “Quiet on Set” thus far.

Keke Palmer, True Jackson, VP

Despite never appearing on a Dan Schneider production, Keke Palmer’s role in True Jackson, VP placed her on the same studio lot. On the August 6th episode of Baby This Is Keke Palmer, Palmer and her mother reminisced about Quiet on Set and shared their personal encounters with Schneider. “In my opinion,” said Sharon, “I found the entire atmosphere of the Dan Schneider set to be quite strange, almost cult-like. The parents were very secretive, and I honestly felt that they took themselves far too seriously.”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=cn47JJU3HBA

Elizabeth Gilles, Victorious

In an interview with Variety, Elizabeth Gilles shared that she and Ariana Grande simultaneously watched the movie “Quiet on Set” over FaceTime. Afterward, they met up to discuss it further, dissecting every detail and revisiting their thoughts. “There was a lot to go through,” Gilles explained. Previously, they had worked together on Nickelodeon’s Victorious (where Gilles played Jade) and the Broadway production of 13.

Gilles expressed a very favorable view of her show in the past, but also found value in revisiting those memories as an adult with a fresh perspective. She advised parents to be readily available whenever needed during filming with children, acknowledging that at times, the parents themselves might contribute to problems. Gilles even suggested that a mental health professional like a psychiatrist or psychologist could assess the child and have a conversation with the parents before allowing them on set or in a show, given the significant responsibilities involved, which children may not always understand, leading to feelings of being trapped or pressured.

Ariana Grande, Victorious and Sam & Cat

Ariana Grande spoke about her past experiences with television shows on a podcast called Podcrushed. She mentioned that she has been reflecting on these memories and acknowledged that her feelings towards them have shifted over time. “Clearly my perspective on it has evolved, and is continuing to do so,” she said. “I’ve been revisiting what the whole experience was like.” Grande also suggested that therapists should be available for child actors on set. Additionally, she expressed concerns about content deemed inappropriate by networks that was still accessible online. “If I had a daughter, I would think about it,” she said, implying there should be stricter boundaries. She seemed frustrated about the discovery of such inappropriate content that was not officially approved for broadcast.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=AAQGlvnFc1E&t=3209s

Kel Mitchell, All That and Kenan & Kel

In June 2024, Kel Mitchell discussed his encounters with Dan Schneider on the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast. He recounted that when Schneider replaced the original showrunner Brian Robbins on All That, the atmosphere shifted. “After they left us with head writer, Dan Schneider, there were a few clashes between us,” Mitchell explained. “I recall having a heated argument on set with him. He suggested we move to this nearby room, specifically a closet. He shut the door and began yelling angrily in there.”

Matthew Underwood, Zoey 101

As a follower, I’m sharing my personal story, similar to that of Underwood who portrayed Logan Reese on Zoey 101. At the age of 19, I experienced sexual harassment and assault by my then agent. After reporting him to the agency, he was dismissed, but unfortunately, he remains active in the industry. This unfortunate event led me to leave LA and abandon my acting career.

Kenan Thompson, All That and Kenan & Kel

On the Tamron Hall Show, I was asked about my personal experiences with the events depicted in the documentary, and I had to clarify that I hadn’t witnessed those situations since they occurred after I left the show. My association with Kenan & Kel was limited to Dan Schneider being credited as its creator, but our worlds outside of All That didn’t intersect significantly. Unfortunately, the negativity began to surface outside of our time on the show, so I wasn’t fully aware of it. It’s heartbreaking to learn about anyone who has been victimized, and I encourage everyone to delve deeper into the matter because a children’s entertainment environment should be safe, and hearing about such incidents is unacceptable.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=n_FZkOhuYyM

Josh Peck, Drake & Josh

On March 21st, a co-star from Bell’s “Drake & Josh” series posted an Instagram message regarding the recent disclosures. Josh Peck penned, “I completed the ‘Quiet on Set’ documentary and spent a few days reflecting. I privately contacted Drake, but I want to express my backing for the courageous survivors who exposed tales of emotional and physical abuse that occurred on Nickelodeon sets. It is essential that children are safeguarded.” He further stated his hope that it would lead to “healing” for the victims and “essential changes” within the industry.

Drake Bell, Drake & Josh

Following the broadcast of the documentary, Bell had his first conversation with Sarah Fraser on “The Sarah Fraser Show” about Nickelodeon’s reaction to “Quiet on Set”. He commented, “They crafted a polished response saying, ‘Understanding his trauma,’ as they couldn’t admit they weren’t aware of this or what transpired. I believe that was a cleverly crafted response, likely penned by a prominent lawyer in Hollywood.” Bell further expressed, “If their concern were genuine, there would be more than just printed words on a page, clearly dictated by a legal advisor instructing them on how to phrase a suitable response.” Additionally, he disclosed that he re-entered rehab after meeting with producers.

Additionally, Bell expressed some reservations about including his father in the documentary, reasoning, “I believe that my father would likely attribute a great deal of blame to himself. I felt this could serve as a chance for him to understand, perhaps, that only one individual is responsible.”

Nancy Sullivan, Drake & Josh

In a heartfelt Instagram post, the actress who portrayed Drake & Josh’s onscreen mother, Sullivan, expressed her affection for them. She said, “Though they weren’t my actual children, I’ll always cherish them.” Sharing a picture of young Bell, she mentioned feeling heartbroken when she learned about the struggles Drake was hiding during their work together. She felt both sad and proud as she watched him courageously reveal his truth in a later interview. In closing, she hoped that the joy he exhibited on their shows would one day outshine the pain he endured, sending her love to the actor.

Devon Werkheiser, Lindsey Shaw, and Daniel Curtis Lee, Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide

The presenters of “Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide,” who were actors on the Nickelodeon show “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” have apologized for their recent comments that seemed to make light of the abuse experienced by one of their co-stars, Drake Bell. During the podcast episode on March 22, Devon Werkheiser said, “We messed up.” Daniel Curtis Lee agreed, saying “yes, absolutely.” Werkheiser continued, “Now that we’ve seen the documentary, it’s disturbing. If I had just watched especially that third episode and then watched us joking like that…I would think, ‘Are they sociopaths? Is something wrong with them?'” In another part of the episode, Werkheiser expressed his feelings upon seeing Bell’s reaction to their joke about the abuse. “When I saw our TikTok clip and that Drake had retweeted it, I felt terrible,” he said. “I immediately put out an apology.” Co-host Lindsey Shaw simply stated, “I am sorry.”

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself participating in a TikTok live broadcast on March 18th, where I jokingly referenced the abuse allegations involving Shaw and Lee. I cautioned my co-host, “Daniel, we’ve always been told not to discuss such matters,” during the stream. “Back in your shell, Daniel, and keep your secrets!” I attempted to regain control of the situation on the live broadcast, stating, “I apologize for our poor taste. We shouldn’t joke about this; it’s not appropriate.” The very next day, I took to Twitter to address my inappropriate comments. “I feel deeply regretful that I even mentioned such a serious topic without fully understanding its weight,” I wrote. “Tonight, I watched ‘Quiet on Set,’ and I am utterly horrified by the gravity of what Drake and others shared.”

Alexa Nikolas, Zoey 101

In response to Dan Schneider’s remarks as mentioned in “Quiet on Set”, Nikolas, a documentary participant, expressed her disagreement with the producer’s comments. On her YouTube channel, Eat Predators, which aims to combat predatory practices in Hollywood, Nikolas stated, “I find it strange that you center what you feel. It’s as if…you are terrible! To put it bluntly, terrible. You’re not embarrassed? Not embarrassed enough! Not embarrassed enough to reach out to the people you actually hurt.” She further emphasized, “Let me be clear: you don’t empathize, Dan. You don’t understand what accountability means. You might be seeking it, but you haven’t found it yet. That much is certain.” She concluded by saying, “This is not the way.”

Jack Salvatore Jr., Zoey 101

Salvatore, who played Mark Del Figgalo on Zoey 101 and worked in the writers’ room of Sam & Cat and Victorious, posted a video to his Instagram following the release of the documentary. “We could talk about the massages. We could talk about the fact that [Dan Schneider] would literally count his gold coin collection in front of his crew who was living paycheck to paycheck. We could talk about how sometimes he would bring out his shotgun to scare one of the writers when they were working at his house,” Salvatore said, before adding, “But what I do want to talk about is never letting this stuff happen again. This is an entire industry built on hope and dreams and adrenaline and wish fulfillment, and that can be a very dangerous thing for megalomaniacs to wield.” Salvatore continued on to say that despite worries that speaking out could impact his career, his silence would perpetuate this kind of behavior. “And until [Schneider] goes on 60 Minutes to answer some questions from some real journalists and not a cast member of his that he’s paying to be there…apology not accepted.”

2024-08-07 05:57