Ariana Grande breaks her silence on ‘Quiet on Set’ docuseries bombshells
Ariana Grande said she is “upset” about “innuendos” made during her time on Nickelodeon after the release of the bombshell “Quiet on Set” docuseries.
“I think we had some very special memories, and we feel so privileged to be able to create those roles and become a part of something that was so special for a lot of young kids,” the pop star said on Penn Badgley’s “Podcrushed” podcast Wednesday.
However, Grande — who starred in Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” from 2010 to 2013 — admitted she is now “reprocessing” her relationship with the teen sitcom after watching back some of the things she was told to say and do.
“Specifically about our show, I think that was something that we were convinced was the cool thing about us — is that we pushed the envelope with our humor,” she said.
“And the innuendos were … it was, like, the cool differentiation. And I don’t know, I think it just all happened so quickly, and now looking back on some of the clips, I’m like, ‘Damn, really? Oh, s–t’ … and the things that weren’t approved for the network were snuck onto, like, our website or whatever.
“I guess I’m upset, yeah.”
Though Grande, 30, did not directly mention the doc, which uncovered the toxic culture behind some of Nickelodeon’s most iconic shows, she said it has been “devastating” to hear stories from former child actors, to whom she referred as “survivors.”
“I think the environment needs to be made safer if kids are going to be acting, and I think there should be therapists,” she said.
“I think parents should allowed to be wherever they want to be, and I think not only on kids’ sets. If anyone wants to do this, or music, or anything at this level of exposure, there should be in the contract something about therapy is mandatory twice a week or thrice a week or something like that.”
After “Quiet on Set” aired in March, several of Grande’s acting clips from “Victorious” went viral, with several fans accusing the network of “sexualizing” the then-teen.
In one scene, the “Thank U, Next” singer laid upside down off the side of a bed as she poured water on herself. And in another episode, she tried to “get juice” by squeezing a potato with two hands.
Several actors and actresses have come forward about their negative experiences working at Nickelodeon as children in the five-part show.
Former showrunner Dan Schneider was accused by both his stars and network employees of fostering a toxic work environment, as well as tormenting and humiliating the cast and crew on his TV sets.
Schneider denied the allegations but acknowledged he owed people a “strong apology.”
Last month, the producer, 58, filed a defamation lawsuit against the “Quiet on Set” producers and creators for implying he had sexually abused child stars.
“Drake & Josh” alum Drake Bell, who appeared in the doc, sued former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck in 2004 for sexual abuse. Peck pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
