Current:Home > InvestMelissa Joan Hart expresses solidarity with Nickelodeon child stars in 'Quiet on Set' docuseries -WealthPro Academy
Melissa Joan Hart expresses solidarity with Nickelodeon child stars in 'Quiet on Set' docuseries
View
Date:2025-04-15 02:35:52
Melissa Joan Hart is standing by the former Nickelodeon child stars who spoke out about alleged abuse in the docuseries "Quiet on Set."
Hart, 47, who starred in Nickelodeon’s "Clarissa Explains It All" from 1991 to 1994, shared on Thursday's episode of the "Meghan McCain Has Entered The Chat" podcast that she never experienced the same trauma at the network, but is still standing by the alleged victims.
"I don’t know other people’s experiences and I’m not negating anything anybody else says. I’ve never been told these people’s stories that are in the (documentary). And I have to say, I’ve never heard a story from a Nickelodeon star personally, nobody’s come to me and talked to me about any of these situations," she said, but added, "I absolutely trust them, believe them, 100%."
"Quiet on Set" covers allegations against producer Dan Schneider, who is accused of creating a toxic work environment on his Nickelodeon shows and engaging in inappropriate behavior, such as asking female employees for massages on set. Many interview subjects also argued that jokes written by Schneider had sexual implications and were not suitable for shows starring minors.
"Drake & Josh" star Drake Bell also alleged that former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck sexually assaulted him, and a mother alleged that a production assistant, Jason Handy, sent her daughter a photograph of himself masturbating.
Hart noted that when she was with Nickelodeon, they filmed on a set in Orlando, Florida, rather than the network's set in Hollywood, where many of the alleged incidents took place.
“In Orlando, I had nothing but a wonderful experience," she said. "They did work the kids a lot harder than they probably legally should. We had a ton of fun, it was just long hours, that’s all – because I had to do school and the show."
The "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" star said that she had a very "protective" cast and crew "that took such good care of me."
"I have to say, not every egg in the Nickelodeon basket is rotten. There were some good eggs – there were some people that really took care of me," she added.
Hart's comments echoed those of Keenan Thompson, who said during an interview on "Tamron Hall" Wednesday that much of the alleged inappropriate conduct that occurred behind the scenes at Nickelodeon happened after he left.
"It's a tough subject," the former "Kenan & Kel" star, 45, said. "It's tough for me because I can't really speak on things that I never witnessed, because all these things happened after I left, basically."
But he added, "My heart goes out to anybody that's been victimized or their families." He also said it's a "good thing" that the documentary is "putting things on display that need to be, stories that need to be told for accountability's sake," even though it's "tough to watch."
"I have fond memories of that place," Thompson explained. "I have fond memories of my co-stars and stuff like that, so to hear that they've gone through terrible things like that, it's really tough."
Schneider served as a producer on "All That," where Thompson got his start in television, as well as "Kenan & Kel," which starred Thompson and Kel Mitchell. Schneider also co-wrote the Nickelodeon movie "Good Burger," which was based on an "All That" sketch, and starred as the boss of Thompson's character.
Kenan Thompson calls for 'accountabilityafter 'Quiet on Set' doc: 'Investigate more'
In a statement shared with USA TODAY, a spokesperson for Schneider said that "everything that happened on the shows Dan ran was carefully scrutinized by dozens of involved adults, and approved by the network," adding, "Had there been any scenes or outfits that were inappropriate in any way, they would have been flagged and blocked by this multilayered scrutiny." In a YouTube video posted after the documentary aired, though, Schneider acknowledged he "definitely at times didn't give people the best of me" and apologized for being "just straight up rude and obnoxious."
Nickelodeon previously said 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."
Who is Drake Bell?What to know about the former Nickelodeon star's career and allegations
Thompson called for further action to be taken in response to the documentary. "Investigate more! It's supposed to be a safe space. It's supposed to be a safe place for kids," he said regarding Nickelodeon's response. "To hear all about that is just like, 'How dare you?'"
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
veryGood! (722)
Related
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Video shows flash mob steal $12,000 worth of goods from Nike store in LA
- Surprise! The 'Squid Game' reality show is morally despicable (and really boring)
- Twilight Director Reveals Kristen Stewart Crashed Robert Pattinson’s 37th Birthday Party
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Nebraska officer shoots man who allegedly drove at him; woman jumped from Jeep and was run over
- All the Michigan vs. Ohio State history you need to know ahead of 2023 matchup
- Maui wildfire survivors camp on the beach to push mayor to convert vacation rentals into housing
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Border crossings closed after vehicle explosion on bridge connecting New York and Canada
Ranking
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Stock market today: Asian shares slip in cautious trading following a weak close on Wall Street
- Anthropologie’s Black Friday Sale 2023: Here’s Everything You Need in Your Cart Stat
- Biden’s plan would raise salaries for Head Start teachers but could leave fewer spots for kids
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- South Korea partially suspends inter-Korean agreement after North says it put spy satellite in orbit
- Nebraska officer shoots man who allegedly drove at him; woman jumped from Jeep and was run over
- Twilight Director Reveals Kristen Stewart Crashed Robert Pattinson’s 37th Birthday Party
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Jeff Bezos fund donates $117 million to support homeless charities. Here are the recipients.
OpenAI reinstates Sam Altman as its chief executive
Track coach pleads guilty in federal court to tricking women into sending him nude photos
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
Bethenny Frankel’s Interior Designer Brooke Gomez Found Dead at 49
Exploding wild pig population on western Canadian prairie threatens to invade northern US states
'She definitely turned him on': How Napoleon's love letters to Josephine inform a new film