Quiet on Set: which Nickelodeon child stars spoke up? Drake Bell and Alexa Nikolas appeared on the explosive docuseries, while Amanda Bynes and Ariana Grande are yet to address the horrific abuse allegations

Apr 7 , 2024

Drake Bell and others have appeared on Quiet on Set to make allegations of abuse while working on Nickelodeon TV shows while other teen stars, like Amanda Bynes and Ariana Grande, have stayed silent. Photo: @PopBase/X

It comes as no surprise that the entertainment industry has a dark side, giving opportunities to those wanting to exploit and manipulate the young, naive and powerless. In recent years we have seen a wave of accusations against major industry figures and big stars – Harvey Weinstein, R. Kelly, and more recently, P. Diddy.

Child actors are especially vulnerable. In the past, stars from Drew Barrymore to Macaulay Culkin have expressed how difficult it can be to work as a child actor. Early exposure to an adult lifestyle, for one, put both of those actors on the path to drug and alcohol abuse.

People magazine cover from 1989, featuring Drew Barrymore. Photo: @arttavana/X

Many big names in entertainment today got their start on children’s shows on Disney and Nickelodeon channels. While many have thrived, others like Britney Spears and Amanda Bynes, have experienced serious setbacks and mental health issues.

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Amanda Bynes off camera. Photo: @amandaamandaamanda1986/Instagram

Bynes, now 38, has been in conservatorship, rehab and a psychiatric ward. In a now-deleted post on X, she revealed the dark side of the child entertainment industry, alleging her father had manipulated her, sexually and otherwise, though she subsequently apologised for these allegations.

Amanda Bynes in The Amanda Show (1999). Photo: Nickelodeon

The recent tell-all series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, has revealed alleged abuse on the set of Nickelodeon shows, including that Bynes had an unusual and inappropriate relationship with the producer of the namesake The Amanda Show (1999-2002), Dan Schneider.

TV producer Dan Schneider. Photo: @StardustNova27/X

Though Bynes reportedly turned down involvement in the docuseries, currently airing on three pay TV networks run by Warner Bros., several actors who grew up on Nickelodeon sets came forward to share their experiences and the alleged abuse they suffered under Schneider and others.

Promotional material for Quiet on Set a docuseries. Photo: @gor0301/X

Drake Bell of Drake and Josh (2004-2007) was one, coming forward in the third episode of Quiet on Set to reveal he was involved in a lawsuit against voice coach Brian Peck for sexually assaulting him in 2004 when Bell was in his late teens.

Drake Bell, appearing on Quiet on Set. Photo: @PopBase/X

The alleged abuse was not unique to The Amanda Show or Drake & Josh – former child actor Alexa Nikolas has also made claims about her time at Nickelodeon. The Zoey 101 (2005-2008) star appeared on Quiet on Set, calling on Schneider to take responsibility for the harm he caused.

Alexa Nikolas, former child actor, as seen on Quiet on Set. Photo: @HBOMaxRomania/X

Nikolas told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview after the show aired that Schneider kept Polaroid photos of her in various set costumes that consisted of inappropriately short miniskirts and shorts.

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Former Nickelodeon child stars have since come forward to share their experiences on set and support those who spoke out on Quiet on Set. Drake & Josh co-star Josh Peck took to Instagram to condemn the horrid acts Bell fell victim to.

“I reached out to Drake privately, but wanted to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world,” Peck shared on Instagram.

Comedian Kenan Thompson. Photo: Captured online

Comedian Kenan Thompson, who starred in another namesake show, Kenan & Kel (1996-2001), showed solidarity with his fellow Nickelodeon actors and supported their right to speak up. However, he was quick to add that his experience working for the children’s channel was different and that Schneider had little involvement in his show. “[Schneider] got a ‘created by’ credit, but it was a different showrunner. So our worlds weren’t really overlapping outside of all that,” Thompson shared during a segment on The Tamron Hall Show.

The cast of Victorious. Photo: @PopBase/X

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Some stars, however, have been noticeably quiet since Quiet on Set aired. Old footage from Schneider-created shows Victorious (2010-2013) and Sam & Cat (2013-2014), where the show’s star, Ariana Grande, performed in sexually suggestive scenes inappropriate for a young audience, resurfaced in the docuseries. Grande, however, has yet to comment on these revelations.

Miranda Cosgrove and Drake Bell. Photo: @storiesflowcom/X

Other stars who’ve remained silent amid the scandal include Miranda Cosgrove, who played Megan Parker on Drake & Josh, and Grande’s Victorious co-star Elizabeth Gillies.

Hollywood

Drake and Josh’s Drake Bell and Josh Peck, and Alexa Nikolas of Zoey 101, have all exposed an alleged culture of abuse cultivated backstage at Nickelodeon, while Josh Peck and Kenan Thompson have spoken up in support
The Amanda Show’s Bynes, Drake and Josh’s Miranda Cosgrove, and Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies (of Victorious) are yet to make a public statement on the allegations against producer Dan Schneider and voice coach Brian Peck