Table of Contents
Nickelodeon show runners and producers were exposed for their horrid misdemeanor in Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which focuses on the allegations surrounding Dan Schneider’s tenure as one of Nickelodeon’s most controversial producers. Melissa Joan Hart, who starred as the titular character in Sabrina the Teenage Witch during the time of Schneider’s employment, believes her fellow actors “one hundred percent.”
In the ongoing five-part documentary, former child stars speak out about the abuse they suffered at the hands of Nickelodeon crew members, acting coaches, and producers on the set of beloved TV shows from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Schneider was accused of fostering a toxic and unsafe work environment, particularly for former cast members of Zoey 101, All That, and The Amanda Show.
Hart Herself Never Encountered Alleged Abuse At Nickelodeon
The series predominantly focuses on She’s the Man star Amanda Bynes and Drake & Josh actor Drake Bell, both of whom were on The Amanda Show together.
“I absolutely trust them, believe them, one hundred percent,” Hart, who started her career on “Clarissa Explains It All” in 1991, said on the “Meghan McCain Has Entered The Chat” podcast.
However, despite the shocking allegations becoming such a highly publicized matter, Hart herself has never heard of such misdeeds on the grapevine that is Nickelodeon culture.
“I don’t know other people’s experiences and I’m not negating anything anybody else says,” she clarified.
“I’ve never been told these people’s stories that are in the documentary. And I have to say, I’ve never heard a story from a Nickelodeon star personally, no one’s come to me and talked to me about any of these situations.”
Drake Bell Spoke Out About Abuse From Dialogue Coach Brian Peck
Along with Bell, several other Nickelodeon stars called out Dan Schneider for his alleged inappropriate behavior, namely acts of sexism and racism.
Hart explained that most of these incidents took place in Hollywood while she was stationed in Orlando from 1989 to 1994.
“In Orlando I had nothing but a wonderful experience,” she said.
“We had a ton of fun, it was just long hours, that’s all — because I had to do school and the show,” she continued.
“So I don’t know if it was the difference in Orlando, or the time period or whoever these guys were they weren’t around, but I have to say not every egg in the Nickelodeon basket is rotten.”
Hart left the network in the mid-1990s, shortly before dialogue coach Brian Peck began sexually assaulting then-15-year-old Drake Bell. Peck was arrested on August 19, 2003, later being convicted for lewd conduct with a minor. Due to his age, Bell was not publicly named in the court records. He shared his story with the public for the first time in Quiet on Set.
Thankfully, Bell isn’t letting the ordeal hold him back. He doesn’t really act anymore, but he has been releasing music since 2004 with his latest album being Non-Stop Flight.