'Zoey 101' star Matthew Underwood says he quit acting after agent sexually assaulted him
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+.
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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."
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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.