If you are always on the internet, there is a very good chance that you have come across the recent allegations that have accused the television channel Nickelodeon. On March 17, Max announced “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” delving into the toxic world that emerged behind the scenes of the favorite shows our generation grew up with. Testimony centered on stories from both actors and writers who talked about illegal split pay, sexism in writing rooms, and inappropriate and suggestive humor on children's television. Nickelodeon clearly illustrates how cycles of abuse are created and maintained, especially in the entertainment industry.
But one of the most notable testimonies involved former actor and dialogue coach Brian Peck.
by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), 2003, Brian Peck was charged with 11 counts of lewd acts with a minor. He served a 16-month prison sentence and was registered as a sex offender. Throughout the documentary, viewers learned that Brian Peck's victim was former child actor Drake Bell.
Bell's testimony shocked many, to say the least. My heart sank when I saw Belle sit in front of the camera. He wasn't someone I expected to sit in on for such an interview, but I also didn't expect the gruesome details this documentary revealed.
After the uproar surrounding the documentary, Dan Schneider, the network's prominent program creator and producer, announced that he and Bobby K. Bowman, who played the quirky T-Bo on the teen sitcom iCarly, I went to YouTube to interview him. Throughout the interview, Bowman presents Schneider with allegations made in the documentary regarding harmful behavior toward actors and screenwriters. Schneider's reaction was mixed. He appears to have apologized for most of his claims, but also took the opportunity to find justification. Many times, he begins his response with an apology, followed by some kind of explanation or justification, and finally, an apology again. Here's the problem.
There was never a clear moment when Schneider took full responsibility for his actions. Bowman mentioned all the issues raised in the documentary, but every question was a softball. Bowman was not a suitable interviewer. He did not ask questions that the public wanted to know, but questions that gave Mr. Schneider the best possible room for these allegations.
The cycle of abuse in Hollywood will never change as long as we always try to make the perpetrators look good. They will continue to appear because those in power do not stop abusing their power. The reality is even worse when children and behind-the-scenes workers are put at risk. Because these people have the least power in the industry, they tend to be the most likely to be taken advantage of, and sadly they were. And until more documentaries come out, we'll never know what's really going on with these people when the cameras aren't rolling.
Nickelodeon and Dan Schneider were also talked about long before this documentary and interview. In recent years, many have drawn attention to the sexual jokes and inappropriate characters that Schneider created with and presented to children. Looking back, it's scary that I didn't realize it until now, but how could I have if I was still a kid? Not only were we naive about the abuse going on behind the scenes, we were also naive about what was being portrayed on television. We have become desensitized to believe that such humor is acceptable. Although we didn't know what these jokes meant or what the specific characters represented, we knew there was an unspoken notion that these were appropriate jokes to make and find funny. I grew up with that assumption. They were not; no child should be subject to that.
I am disillusioned with Hollywood and believe that much of its work is disgusting and exploitative of people who have genuine intentions of entertaining and being in the media world. I feel it. Acting, writing, and other forms of expression are such beautiful and powerful expressions of the human experience. However, there can be a dark side to this when those in power choose to use their platforms to harm rather than help and inspire others. We cannot enjoy the entertainment and beauty of these art forms without recognizing the ugliness that goes into their creation.