Jennette McCurdy, star of iCarly, speaks out about her time working for Nickelodeon, and among other shocking and heartbreaking revelations, she revealed that the company offered her $300,000 in "hush money" to hide her abuse under "The Creator." Following the cancellation of her spinoff show Sam & Cat, and her subsequent departure from Nickelodeon, she revealed that the company offered her "hush money."
McCurdy had broken out as a standout opposite Miranda Cosgrove and was offered the chance to star opposite Arianna Grande in a spin-off. During discussions for her contract, she described "The Creator" who not only emotionally manipulated her, but also inappropriately massaged her shoulders without her consent. She said she is afraid of telling him to stop.
McCurdy recounted a hopeless feeling after spending so many years in the "phony, bizarre sphere" of the company. When her show was finally canceled, agents offered her "hush money," while concealing it as a "thank-you gift" from Nickelodeon. She wrote in her memoir that one of her managers said, "Theyre giving you three hundred thousand dollars," and she would never speak publicly about your experience at Nickelodeon.
What the f--- is Nickelodeon is offering me $300,000 in hush money to avoid talking publicly about my experience on the show? My personal experience of The Creators abuse? Shouldn't they at least adhere to some sort of ethical code?
What the f---? Nickelodeon is offering me $300,000 in hush money to avoid talking publicly about my experiences on the show? My personal experience of The Creators abuse? Shouldnt they at least follow some sort of ethical code?
Dan Schneider, the man behind Nickelodeon's biggest shows, including iCarly, Sam & Cat, Zoey 101, and Drake & Josh, has been hounded by previous cast members and employees. In 2018, he finally left the network following ViacomCBS' investigations, which were published in 2021.
Schneider frequently text actors outside work hours, according to several actors interviewed, and all of this coming without considering the general unease felt by viewers about his methods of treating children and his claims of sexualizing actors in their shows.
Schneider's actions were not an entirely unknown event, yet nobody from Nickelodeon has publicly pointed the finger at him. Stories like these only confirm what the general public has been privy to for years. However, when combined with years of suspicion surrounding Nickelodeon and Schneider, it creates a troubling image for the network and heartbreaking for those who were affected.
I'm Glad My Mom's Dead, McCurdy's memoir, will be released on August 9.