Zoey 101 alum Alexa Nikolas, among the Nickelodeon stars included in Investigation Discovery’s Peaceful on Set: The Dark Side of Kids Televisionhas actually reacted to Dan Schneider‘s commentary on the docuseries.
In a video shared today to her YouTube page for Eat Predatorsa motion produced by Nikolas to end predatory habits in the show business, the previous kid star responded to Schneider voicing remorse towards his actions as an employer. Schneider acted as manufacturer and showrunner of different Nickelodeon programs consisting ofAll ThatThe Amanda ShowDrake & & JoshandZoey 101
Nikolas was 12 when she was cast on Zoey 101She left after 2 seasons in 2006 following what she explains listed below as a blow-up from Schneider after the starlet requested for him to moderate in her stuffed vibrant with the series’ star, Jamie Lynn Spears.
“Watching over the previous 2 nights was really tough, [with] me facing my previous habits– a few of which are awkward and I are sorry for, and I certainly owe some individuals a quite strong apology,” Schneider had actually stated throughout his 19-minute sit-down chat with BooG!E, who played T-Bo oniCarlyin reaction to the Peaceful on Set claims. The video followed up a declaration launched previously by an associate for Schneider that stated in part, “Everything that took place on the programs Dan ran was thoroughly inspected by lots of included grownups, and authorized by the network.”
In her video, Nikolas stated, “He’s humiliated?”
She continued, “I’m sorry, him focusing what he feels is unusual to me. It’s like you actually … you are terrible! To be rather sincere with you, horrible. You’re humiliated? Not humiliated enough! Not humiliated enough to go connect to individuals you really hurt.
“I’m going to cut to the chase here: you do not feel anything, Dan. You have no concept what responsibility is. You’re looking for it, possibly, however you have not arrived on it. That’s for sure. This is not the method.”
Among her previous Zoey 101 co-stars, Jack Salvatore, has actually likewise spoken out to prove a few of the Peaceful on Set accusations, in addition to level brand-new ones, in an Instagram post where he stated, “Apology declined” till Schneider goes on 60 Minutes to respond to concerns from some “genuine reporters.” (The Hollywood Reporter has actually connected to associates for Schneider and Nickelodeon about Salvatore’s remarks. Salvatore decreased more remark when reached by THR)
After she published her video, Nikolas spoke with THR to broaden upon what she exposed in the docuseries and share more information about the supposed hazardous environment produced by Schneider.
She had actually formerly spoken up about a wardrobe-related occurrence while playing her Zoey 101 character, Nicole, stating on the Genuine Pod podcast in 2022 that the encounter was something that encouraged her to wish to speak up and end up being a supporter for other survivors of predatory habits.
Speaking with THRshe states Schneider remained in the outfit space as she tried out clothing and declares he kept Polaroids of her in the clothing. According to Nikolas, the showrunner “handpicked” miniskirts for her to use, which were “so brief” that the outfit designers needed to offer her cyclist shorts to use below. The bicycle rider shorts were too long, poking out under the small skirts, so they had actually to be cut.
“I was informed [I had to wear the shorts] That no one sees my butt,” states Nikolas. “It’s embarrassing for a kid to be informed, ‘We simply wish to ensure that your butt does not reveal!’ You recall at that and you’re like, ‘Why do not you simply provide me clothing that do not reveal my butt?’ Like, that’s freaking odd! Dan desires these skirts; he’s the one handpicking them and he has all innovative control. It’s quite frightening recalling at that experience.”
Alexa Nikolas in 2005 when she starred on Zoey 101.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Associates for Schneider did not react to THR‘s ask for remark. Kris Dangl, who was the series’ costume designer, rejected to THR that Schneider had a function in selecting the clothing for the program. “If a skirt was brief, then you used much shorter bike shorts. The skirts got much shorter and more stylish at that time when we were doing Zoey 101 due to the fact that it was an extremely stylish time, like a great deal of tennis skirts and extremely brief, stylish Abercrombie and Fitch skirts,” stated Dangl, who began operating at Nickelodeon in 2002.
Before the docuseries, Nikolas had actually openly discussed another unfavorable experience she dealt with on the set of Zoey 101In 2019 on Instagram Live, the starlet detailed an unpleasant encounter with Schneider following supposed widespread bullying from Jamie Lynn.
At the time, Nikolas stated that throughout the program’s 2nd season, a skill organizer informed her mom that he was taking the starlet to hair and makeup, however rather led her to Spears’ trailer. When she took a seat within, her sis Britney Spears apparently began “scolding” her on Jamie Lynn’s behalf, threatening to destroy her profession.
“My mama didn’t even understand where I remained in that minute which was kid endangerment,” Nikolas informs THR about the circumstance. “Imagine if it wasn’t Britney and Jamie. Think of if it was [convicted child sex abuser] Brian Peck on the other side. Which is why, when you’re a skill planner, you need to inform the moms and dads where you are taking the kids.”
After being cornered by Britney, Nikolas states she informed her mom what occurred, who then asked for a conference with the program’s production group. Nikolas was accompanied by her representative, while her legal representative was on the phone. “Dan was simply terrible. He was stating destructive things, like, ‘Alexa requires to stop weeping about being bullied. This is not about her. She requires to put her sensations aside [because] this is an expert workplace,'” she remembers the showrunner stating.
She includes, “There were 3 other manufacturers in there who were enabling him to imitate that. [One casting director] resembled, ‘You need to be thanking us for providing you a chance like this. You’re fortunate to be on Nickelodeon.'”
After Nikolas states she rupture into tears throughout the conference, Schneider requested for the then-13-year-old to speak to him and the production group independently, which her representative accepted. This resulted in an escalation from Schneider: “Dan screams at me, ‘This is not called Nicole 101do you comprehend me?'”
After lacking the space in tears, Nikolas states she informed her mom what took place, who chose to pull her child out of the program. “My mama called them and stated, basically, ‘If you do not eliminate my child I’m going to sue you,'” the starlet remembers.
Soon after, Nikolas’ mom got a call from the starlet’ representative, who stated Nickelodeon enabled her to break her agreement. The network likewise passed a message along to the teenager, stating she was highly prevented from participating in the Kids Choice Awards, declares Nikolas. “They penalized me for simply desiring them to make it a much better environment while experiencing Dan Schneider chewing out me,” she states.
Representatives for Schneider and Nickelodeon have actually not reacted to THR‘s remark demand.
Britney ultimately supported her actions towards Nikolas, asking forgiveness in a since-deleted Instagram postShe composed, “Just think of … me visiting my little sibling on her set, last day of shooting, bringing Sprinkles cupcakes … 9 months pregnant, hormonal agents raving like hell and the [assistant director] experiencing Jamie Lynn performing at me, positioning her hands on my knees while I’m taking a seat, her sobbing informing me that she’s being bullied on set!!!”
She continued, “My sibling was actually like my child maturing … so I excuse my lack of knowledge for chewing out you when I certainly had no concept what was actually going on!!!”
Nikolas has actually been in touch with Bell, another Peaceful on Set individual, given that his story has actually aired. The star stated that his co-star Josh Peck had actually connected independently, and Josh Peck (unassociated to Brian Peckhas considering that spoken up to support his previous co-star. Speaking out is starlet Nancy Sullivan, who played the duo’s mom on the series. “It broke my heart into a million pieces to hear simply just how much Drake was holding inside while we were collaborating,” she composed on Instagram. “I was both ravaged and happy seeing the male he’s turned into muffle electronic camera and fearlessly inform his reality.”
The doc exposed a list of stars who had actually composed letters of assistance in 2013 for Bell’s abuser, Brian Peck, and a few of those names were news to Bell when viewing the doc, he informed Nikolas. In a quote from Bell shown THR through Nikolas, Bell stated Taran Killam being amongst the letter authors was a shock.
“We were pals, I believed,” stated Bell in a declaration. “I offered him as a present a cardboard eliminated of Princess Leia since he was consumed with Star Warsand I dealt with Carrie Fisher. I got it signed for him and he included it in Individuals publication when he initially got Saturday Night Live [in 2010]It was for a spread on the brand-new cast, and they stated to bring their preferred thing from home. He got an image with it in the publication and informed the story of how I got it for him.”
He included, “And he still composed the letter.”
Representatives for Killam have actually not reacted to THR‘s ask for remark.