Kenan Thompson was recently interviewed on the Tamron Hall Show, where he shared his thoughts on the experiences of former Nickelodeon child stars. While acknowledging the difficulties some child stars faced, he emphasized that he personally was not involved in those situations. Thompson was promoting his movie Good Burger 2, a Nickelodeon project, and was asked about the revelations from the documentary Quiet on Set.
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Thompson conveyed a neutral stance, expressing sympathy for those affected by mistreatment but clarifying his lack of direct exposure to such incidents. He highlighted the chronological and operational distance from the problematic behaviors associated with Nickelodeon, particularly pointing out that the alleged misconduct came to light after his tenure and involved individuals with whom he had limited interaction, notably Dan Schneider, TMZ reported. According to Thompson, Schneider, credited as a creator of ‘Kenan & Kel,’ was not as involved in the day-to-day as some might assume. He stated that a different showrunner was primarily responsible for the series, suggesting his experiences with Nickelodeon were distinct from the darker incidents of other former stars.
“I wasn’t really aware of a lot of it, but my heart goes out to anybody that’s been victimized or their families, you know what I mean? I mean I think it’s a good thing that the doc is out and it’s putting things on display that need to be, you know, stories that need to be told for this, accountability sake,” he explained. His comments follow similar expressions of concern and solidarity from other Nickelodeon alumni, including Josh Peck, who recently spoke out in the wake of Drake Bell’s detailed account of his experiences with abuse while working for the network.
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Dan Schneider also responded to the allegations and experiences discussed in the documentary during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter:
“The realization of the pain I may have caused is deeply troubling, and I unequivocally apologize to those affected,”
As more former child stars share their experiences, the conversation around child safety and well-being in the entertainment industry continues to evolve, underscoring the importance of transparency, accountability, and support for those who have suffered. Thompson’s balanced viewpoint contributes to this ongoing dialogue, shedding light on the varied experiences of those who grew up in the spotlight and reminding the public of the need for vigilant protection of young performers.