'Zoey 101' Actor Matthew Underwood Takes a Step Back from Acting Post Sexual Assault Incident
'Zoey 101' actor Matthew Underwood opens up about his experience with sexual assault and stands by Dan Schneider amidst 'Quiet on Set' controversy
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Matthew Underwood. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
Zoey 101 actor Matthew Underwood bravely opened up about his experience with sexual assault. He shared his story following the release of Investigation Discovery’s docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Friday, March 29, Underwood revealed that when he was 19 years old, he was sexually harassed and assaulted by his agent at the time. The agent, who had gained his trust as a friend and mentor, remained unnamed in the statement.
Underwood shared that his trust was broken and his self-esteem was shattered. He took action by reporting the person to the agency, resulting in their termination from the job, although they are still working in the industry. This incident led to his decision to leave Los Angeles and give up on his acting career.
Additionally, Underwood revealed that he was sexually abused by his best friend's stepfather when he was just 12 years old. He felt compelled to speak out about his experiences of assault and harassment after facing severe public backlash, with many labeling him as a "pedophile defender" for not speaking up sooner following the release of Quiet on Set.
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The documentary "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" aired on March 17 and 18, shedding light on the harmful work environment for child actors at Nickelodeon. It focused on allegations of abuse against Dan Schneider, the creator of popular Nickelodeon shows such as Zoey 101, Drake & Josh, iCarly, Victorious, and Sam & Cat.
One of the actors featured in the documentary, Underwood, who played Logan Reese in Zoey 101 from 2005 to 2008, spoke out about the issue. He expressed concern that many others in the industry may also be facing harassment but are hesitant to speak out. Underwood emphasized the importance of understanding that individuals may have valid reasons for staying silent, even if they don't publicly denounce inappropriate behavior. He also mentioned his return to the role of Logan Reese in the revival film "Zoey 102" in 2023.
While actors, writers, and crew members who worked on set with Schneider share similar stories of workplace harassment, Underwood stated that he never had a negative experience working on a Nickelodeon show or with Dan.
Underwood mentioned, "I have nothing to add to the conversation that anyone would care to hear." He expressed his belief in people's capacity to improve and mentioned that Dan seems to acknowledge his past behavior. Underwood also believes that Dan has the potential to be a creator and coworker that everyone can enjoy working with.
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Matthew Underwood. Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic via Getty
After feeling that his words were being misunderstood as a defense of Schneider, Underwood decided to address the situation. He directed fans to a detailed response he posted on Reddit. In part of his statement, he expressed, "I believe people are misinterpreting my words and assuming my intentions. I know that no matter what I say, someone will twist it. However, I felt compelled to clarify things after seeing the discussion."
Continuing on, Underwood provided an example to explain his intentions. He stated, "I wish that even those who harmed me would aspire to be better individuals. If they genuinely wanted to change and put in the effort to improve, I believe in a world that could support and encourage their transformation. In such a world, more people could find fulfillment in being better individuals, leading to a decrease in negative behavior. Of course, I wouldn't want them near children. Despite any pain I endure, I will always strive for a better world and believe in the potential for human growth."
While Underwood had a positive experience with Schneider, other Zoey 101 alumni have shared different experiences with the showrunner. Alexa Nikolas, known for her role as Nicole Bristow on the show, has spoken out about what she describes as Nickelodeon's "unsafe" working conditions for child actors. She has criticized Schneider, referring to him as the "creator of childhood trauma," and has accused the network of enabling child abuse. (Schneider left Nickelodeon in 2018.)
In a post on Instagram in August 2022, Nikolas expressed her own experience at Nickelodeon, stating that she did not feel protected as a child while working there. She demanded that Nickelodeon prioritize protecting children over predators.
Nikolas, along with other former Nickelodeon stars, including All That cast members Giovonnie Samuels, Kyle Sullivan, and Bryan Hearne, as well as Drake & Josh alum Drake Bell, were interviewed for Quiet On Set.
