Although he did not appear in ID’s documentary Quiet on Set, former Nickelodeon child star Matthew Underwood reveals that he was also sexually assaulted by someone he thought he could trust.
Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault
After being criticized for remaining silent about the documentary, the Zoey 101 star took to Instagram to reveal his own personal experience with assault.
“I know many folks want me to respond to the Quiet on Set documentary,” Matthew Underwood acknowledged. “I’m going to share something with you that I never thought I’d have to talk about publicly, as it’s honestly none of your business anyway.”
Underwood then explained that when he was 12 years old, he was groomed and molested by his best friend’s stepfather.
“I lost the best friends I’d ever had because I couldn’t spend any time with them without feeling the personal disgust and betrayal brought on by a man I trusted as a father to me.”
Matthew Underwood further revealed that years later he was sexually assaulted by his agent.
“When I was 19, I was sexually harassed and then assaulted by my agent at the time,” he wrote. “Who spent a decent amount of time building trust with me as a friend and mentor. Again, my trust was betrayed and my self image crushed.”
Matthew Underwood went on to write that he reported his then-agent to the agency, which led to him being fired. However, the actor says that the agent is still active in the industry. “This experience provoked my move from LA,” Underwood added. “And ended my pursuit of acting.”
Underwood pointed out that his current agents, Lauren Green and Sam Hamptom of Modern Artists Entertainment are “incredible humans” who are sincere, genuine, and smart professionals.
Matthew Underwood Says He Never Had a Bad Experience at Nickelodeon
After he revealed what had happened to him, Matthew Underwood stated he never had a bad experience at Nickelodeon. He also pointed out that he didn’t have a bad experience with Dan Schneider.
The former Nickelodeon producer was the key topic of the documentary, as he has been accused of mentally abusing former child stars on his sets. Following the documentary’s release, Schneider apologized for his past behavior.
“I have nothing to add to the conversation that anyone would care to hear,” Underwood pens. “I like to believe people have the capacity to be better humans.”
Matthew Underwood stated that Schneider appears to recognize that he had been “an a—hole” in his past. “I like to believe he is fully capable of being a creator and co-worker everyone can enjoy working with. I have no expectation to work with him again.”
Underwood went on to add that his statement is just wanting good for anyone who wants to be better.