[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Ever because the bombshell allegations in regards to the behind-the-scenes experiences of youngsters on Nickelodeon dropped this month via the Quiet on Set documentary, a number of former youngster stars have come ahead to share their horrific experiences within the enterprise. This consists of Zoey 101 alum Matthew Underwood.
The 33-year-old actor took to Instagram on Friday to disclose he had been sexually abused a number of instances when he was youthful. Prepare yourselves, Perezcious readers. Matthew defined that he was first “groomed and molested by my best friends’ stepfather” as a 12-year-old, including:
“I lost the best friends I’d ever had because I couldn’t spend any time with them without feeling the personal disgust and betrayal brought on by a man I trusted as a father to me.”
Heartbreaking. Years later, on the age of 19, Matthew claimed he was sexually harassed and assaulted by his former agent, whom he doesn’t identify. Although he reported the agent and bought him fired by his company, the Zoey 102 star mentioned the person is “still active in the industry” to at the present time. The expertise was so horrible that Matthew determined to stop performing and depart Los Angeles solely:
“When I was 19, I was sexually harassed and then assaulted by my agent at the time, who had spent a decent amount of time building trust with me as a friend and mentor. Again my trust was betrayed and my self image crushed. I reported him to the agency and he has since been fired – although he is still active in the industry. This experience provoked my move away from LA and ended my pursuit of acting.”
Related: Melissa Joan Hart Opens Up About Her Own Nickelodeon Days After Quiet On Set Doc
As for why Matthew is sharing his story now? He defined that individuals have been sending him demise threats and calling him a “pedophile defender” after the doc, which options allegations of Zoey 101 creator Dan Schneider allegedly having inappropriate relationships with and “sexualizing” different youngster stars of the community. So now, Matthew needs to remind everybody that individuals might have their private causes for “staying silent” on the documentary and are usually not prepared to talk but:
“I have spent many years rebuilding my self-image and those hateful words have little effect on me today. But, I imagine many of my friends in the business are being equally harassed if they aren’t joining the chorus, so I’m sharing this with hope that some of you recognize that just because a person doesn’t shout from the rooftops that pedophiles are bad or that people can suck – that does not mean they don’t have their own reasons for staying silent, good reasons, personal reasons.”
Matthew continued:
“I have extreme empathy for anyone who has been taken advantage of by people they trusted. I hope they are all able to grow to love themselves and have great support from their family and friends in their journey of recovery. I also ask you all to take a few moments and consider why someone might not share their experiences publicly and not immediately shame them for reserving their right to privacy.”
He has some extent. No one needs to be stress into telling their traumatic experiences proper now. As for the Dan Schneider allegations? He did take a second to defend him, saying he didn’t have a “bad experience” working with him:
“I never had a bad experience working on set of a Nickelodeon show and I never had a bad experience with Dan. I have nothing to add to the conversation that anyone would care to hear. I like to believe people have the capacity to be better humans and Dan appears to recognize that he had been an asshole in his past. I like to believe he is fully capable of being a creator and coworker everyone can enjoy working with.”
Hmm. Others almost definitely would say in any other case. Read your complete submit (under):
We applaud Matthew for coming ahead together with his story. Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know within the feedback.
If you or somebody you realize has skilled sexual violence and wish to be taught extra about assets, take into account testing https://www.rainn.org/resources.
If you have got honest trigger to suspect youngster abuse, name the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
[Image via Paramount Plus/YouTube]