Raquel Lee Bolleau recently expressed frustration with the Investigation Discovery docuseries, “Quiet on Set,” which featured interviews with actors and former child stars who alleged abuse and a toxic work environment on some Nickelodeon shows produced by Dan Schneider. Bolleau was not invited to join a panel discussion with other former Nickelodeon stars in the show’s fifth episode. She described an incident on set of “The Amanda Show” where she was repeatedly spit on by Amanda Bynes and felt ignored when she tried to bring it up. Bolleau stated that she is done with the industry and focused on her family and businesses instead.
While Bolleau was not interviewed for the show, a clip of her describing the incident with Bynes was aired for the final episode. “All That” actor Bryan Hearne and his mother, Tracey Brown, reacted to Bolleau’s experience, with Brown calling it racist. Schneider, in his response to the docuseries, emphasized the importance of diversity to him. Bolleau wished she had been involved in the discussion with other actors and was frustrated by the lack of communication from the producers about the docuseries’ premise and potential triggering effects of rehashing past traumatic experiences.
Bolleau’s decision to speak out comes in the wake of former “Double Dare” host Marc Summers also expressing feeling misled about the docuseries’ premise. Summers felt ambushed during his interview and left after producers shared a video and explained the series’ premise. The directors of the series, Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz, claimed to be clear with each participant about the nature of the projects. Bolleau emphasized her desire to move on from the industry, focusing on her family and businesses instead.
Despite Bolleau not being part of the panel discussion, the final “Quiet on Set” episode included a clip of her talking about her experience on “The Amanda Show.” This incident involved her being spit on by Amanda Bynes and feeling dismissed when she tried to address it. Bolleau expressed feeling unheard and marginalized by the entertainment industry and the producers of the docuseries. She highlighted the need for change within the industry to prevent further instances of abuse and toxic work environments for child actors.
Both Bolleau and Summers’ experiences with the docuseries shed light on the challenges faced by child actors in the entertainment industry and the importance of clear communication and transparency from producers. Bolleau’s decision to step away from the industry reflects a growing trend of former child stars speaking out about past trauma and advocating for change. The industry’s response to these revelations will likely shape future discussions around accountability, representation, and creating safer work environments for all actors, especially those who are young and vulnerable.
