Former “Zoey 101” star Matthew Underwood has come forward with allegations of sexual assault against his former agent, which he claims led to his decision to quit acting. Underwood, known for his role as Logan Reese in the popular Nickelodeon show, made the revelation in a statement posted on Instagram. The actor addressed the recent allegations of abuse and toxicity at Nickelodeon that were highlighted in the “Quiet on Set” docuseries.
In his statement, Underwood disclosed that he was groomed and molested by his best friend’s stepfather when he was just 12 years old. This traumatic experience resulted in the loss of his closest friendships, as he could no longer bear being around them due to the betrayal he felt. At the age of 19, Underwood further revealed that he was sexually harassed and assaulted by his agent, someone he had trusted as a friend and mentor. He reported the incident to the agency, leading to the agent’s termination, although he remains active in the industry.
Underwood emphasized that these experiences prompted him to leave Los Angeles and abandon his acting career. He expressed frustration at being harassed by fans who demanded his response to the allegations against “Zoey 101” creator Dan Schneider and other Nickelodeon employees. Underwood clarified that he had never personally experienced any misconduct on the set of the show and had no additional information to contribute to the ongoing conversation.
The “Quiet on Set” docuseries shed light on the personal accounts of several former child stars, including Drake Bell, who accused a Nickelodeon dialogue coach, Brian Peck, of sexual assault. Peck had previously been sentenced to prison in 2004 for child sex abuse. The series also raised concerns about Dan Schneider’s behavior, leading to his departure from Nickelodeon in 2018. Schneider later apologized for any inappropriate actions and denied allegations of “sexualizing” child stars on the network’s shows.
A representative for Schneider defended the shows he ran, stating that all scenes were carefully reviewed by multiple adults and approved by the network. They emphasized that if any scenes were deemed problematic, they would have been removed. The representative also highlighted the presence of parents, caregivers, and friends on set, ensuring a multilayered scrutiny of the production process.
