Melissa Joan Hart fully believes the allegations against Nickelodeon made in the “Quiet on Set” documentary, even though she had a positive experience at the network herself. Despite not seeing the documentary, Hart supports those who came forward and shared their stories. She acknowledged that she never personally heard any similar horror stories during her time at the network as a teenager, but she doesn’t negate anyone else’s experiences.
Several former child stars and employees spoke out about showrunner Dan Schneider’s alleged inappropriate behavior on set in the documentary, including accusations of sexism and racism. Hart mentioned that most of the alleged issues took place in Hollywood, while her experience working at Nickelodeon’s Orlando location from 1989 to 1994 was wonderful. She admitted that the child actors were worked harder than they probably should have been due to Florida’s child labor laws, but she had a great time, even though it involved long hours balancing school and the show.
While Hart was part of the network during the 90s, she emphasizes that she was surrounded by an amazing crew and an incredible cast that took good care of her. She felt safe and protected during her time on the show and acknowledges that not every experience at Nickelodeon was negative. Despite Hart’s positive experience, voice coach Brian Peck sexually assaulted Drake Bell, who was 15 years old at the time when he worked on “Drake & Josh.” Bell sued Peck in 2004, where the voice coach pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Following the release of the documentary, more former Nickelodeon stars have come forward with their own experiences. Kenan Thompson, from the show “All That,” mentioned on Tamron Hall’s talk show that he wasn’t aware of many revelations in the documentary as they occurred after he left the network. Thompson encouraged Nickelodeon to investigate further and expressed sympathy for those who have been victimized. He acknowledged that while the documentary sheds light on important stories, it is difficult to hear about negative experiences from former co-stars.
Overall, Hart and Thompson both recognize the importance of raising awareness about the issues surrounding the network’s staff and ensuring accountability. While Hart had a positive experience at Nickelodeon, she supports those who have spoken out and believes their stories. Thompson acknowledges the tough aspects of learning about the negative experiences of former co-stars but emphasizes the significance of addressing and investigating these issues further. The documentary has sparked conversations about the treatment of child actors at Nickelodeon and the need for a closer examination of the network’s practices.
