Ariana Grande has expressed disbelief over the sexual innuendos embedded in Nickelodeon scripts she performed as a teenager. Grande gained fame at 15, portraying quirky red-head Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s show Victorious. She later reprised the role alongside Jeannette McCurdy in the iCarly crossover and spin-off series, Sam and Cat.
In recent years, resurfaced clips of Grande have made many uncomfortable. Viral videos show the then-16-year-old Grande, as Cat, engaging in bizarre scenarios, such as squeezing juice from a potato, putting her toes in her mouth, and lying on her back while pouring water on her chest. These clips left viewers outraged, alleging that they sexualized Grande.
Additional allegations against show creator Dan Schneider emerged in the documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, released in March. The series included interviews with cast and crew members from the late 90s and early 00s, detailing alleged sexism, racism, and inappropriate behaviour towards young cast members. Schneider denies all allegations.
🎥| Ariana Grande speaks on the allegations against Nickelodeon as well as her experience w/ the network:
“My relationship to it is has been changing. I’m reprocessing a lot of what it was like. I think the environment needs to be made safer if kids are going to be acting.” pic.twitter.com/2B2mufqfZa
— KenBarbie™ (@itsKenBarbie) June 12, 2024
In a new Vanity Fair interview, Grande expressed shock over the sexual innuendos in old scripts. She noted, “You don’t remember some of it, and then it’s thrown into this compilation and you’re like, ‘Wait, that happened? I can’t believe that!’” She emphasised the importance of creating a safer working environment for performers and artists.
Grande also highlighted the need for mental health support in the industry, saying, “If you’re going to sign to a major label and your life’s going to change the way that mine did, there should be therapy in the contract. You should have support on the mental side because it’s not normal. Nothing can really prepare you for what comes with this amount of visibility.”
Schneider refuted the allegations in a YouTube video responding to the Discovery series, stating that jokes in the show were intended solely for children. Reflecting on his past, he acknowledged, “I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”
Nickelodeon previously stated that while it “cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviours from productions decades ago,” it investigates “all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct.” Schneider departed from Nickelodeon in 2018 after a two-decade tenure with the company.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Perezhilton highlights Ariana Grande’s shock at being sexualized on Nickelodeon sets, with disturbing clips and allegations of abuse and misconduct exposed in the ‘Quiet on Set’ documentary.(read more)
- **Tyla**: Ariana Grande addresses resurfaced child performances under scrutiny, advocating for safer work environments and support for child actors amidst Nickelodeon abuse allegations.(read more)
- USA Today reports Ariana Grande is “upset” by “innuendos” on her Nickelodeon shows “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat” after the allegations in “Quiet on Set,” reflecting on her childhood acting experiences with a reprocessed perspective.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What did Ariana Grande say about the sexual innuendos in Nickelodeon scripts?
She said she ‘can’t believe’ the sexual innuendos placed in the scripts she acted out as a teenager.
What show did Ariana Grande rise to fame on?
Ariana Grande rose to fame on Nickelodeon’s Victorious.
What kind of scenarios was Ariana Grande acting out in the resurfaced clips?
She acted out scenarios like squeezing juice from a potato, putting her toes in her mouth, and pouring water on her chest.
What did the documentary ‘Quiet on Set’ reveal about Dan Schneider?
The documentary revealed allegations of sexism, racism, and inappropriate behavior with young cast members against Dan Schneider.
What did Grande suggest should be included in contracts for young performers?
She suggested that therapy and mental health support should be included in contracts.
