Matthew Underwood, star of Zoey 101, says he was groomed and molested during his childhood as an actor, while defending his decision to remain silent in the face of growing accusations against Nickelodeon CEO Dan Schneider.
The 33-year-old, who plaed Logan Reese in four seasons of the popular show, says he has been flooded with a barrage of hateful messages because he has not publicly discussed abuse claims that were brought to light in the Discovery docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
Nickelodeon Star Matthew Underwood Reveals Reason for Quitting Acting
Drake Bell and Alexa Nikolas, both former child stars, have come forward with disturbing accounts of their experiences with certain individuals in the industry. They shared their stories, shedding light on instances of bullying, sexism, and racism.
However, Underwood shared that many people had valid reasons for choosing to remain silent. He disclosed in Instagram that he left the industry due to the sexual abuse he suffered.
Underwood wrote, "When I was 12 years old I was groomed and molested by my best friends' stepfather."
Later, at 19, he says he faced sexual harassment and assault from his trusted agent, an individual he considered both a friend and mentor.
Despite reporting the incidents, the agent remained active in the industry, prompting Underwood to abandon his pursuit of acting and leave Los Angeles.
Underwood didn't name the agent and made it clear that he would not participate in the criticism directed toward Schneider.
Child Stars Speak Up in the Face of Backlash
Meanwhile, the recent documentary series "Quiet on Set", available for streaming, has amplified these voices further. It features personal accounts from various former child stars, including Drake Bell, who accused Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck of sexual assault. Peck's disturbing actions led to a 16-month prison sentence in 2004.
The spotlight also shines on Dan Schneider, the once-celebrated creator behind numerous Nickelodeon hits. Allegations of fostering a toxic work environment and mistreating cast and crew have surfaced, tarnishing his reputation.
While Schneider has denied the accusations, he issued an apology for past behavior after parting ways with Nickelodeon in 2018.
The complaint that Drake Bell had filed against Peck emerged in between all of these revelations, which assisted in bringing attention on the widespread problem of sexual assault that exists throughout the business.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly misidentified the person Underwood claims molested him.
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