Ariana Grande says Nickelodeon told child stars innuendos were 'cool' as she breaks silence on 'Quiet on Set'
- Ariana Grande said Nickelodeon told the "Victorious" cast that inappropriate innuendos were "cool."
- The singer and actor spoke on "Podcrushed" about her experiences as a child star on the show.
Ariana Grande said that Nickelodeon producers told the cast of "Victorious" that the innuendos they filmed as child actors were "cool."
It's the first time that the singer has opened up about her experiences on the series after the documentary "Quiet on Set" exposed some of the inappropriate behavior that went on at the kids' network in the 1990s and 2000s.
Most notably, "Drake and Josh" actor Drake Bell shared that he was sexually assaulted by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck in the early 2000s.
Nickelodeon told Deadline in March: "Now that Drake Bell has disclosed his identity as the plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength required to come forward."
The documentary, which was released earlier this year, sent ripples through the entertainment industry, forcing audiences and actors alike to reevaluate whether certain scenes in kids' TV shows at the time were appropriate.
"Quiet on Set" highlighted how shows such as "Victorious" included scenes where child stars acted out scenes featuring sexual innuendos.
When speaking to Penn Badgley on Wednesday's "Podcrushed," Grande said that she was "reprocessing" her time on "Victorious."
Without referring to a particular scene or joke, Grande said: "Speaking specifically about our show, I think that was something that we were convinced was the cool thing about us. We pushed the envelope with our humor, and the innuendos were like… We were told and convinced that it was the cool differentiation.
"It just all happened so quickly, and now, looking back on some of the clips, I'm like, 'Damn, really? Oh shit.' I think about if I had a daughter."
She went on: "There's also a strange pattern that occurs where it's really taken advantage of how much it means to the young performer to get a laugh from video village," Grande said. "You're like, 'Oh shit. I'm doing something great. This is funny. This is good!'"
Grande then claimed that "so many adults" had to approve all the scenes in the show, which chimes with the wider issues Nickelodeon at the time that were explored in "Quiet on Set."
The singer also said that there's been a "cultural shift" in society in the last decade toward people feeling more able and empowered to come forward about negative workplace experiences, not just in the film and television industry.
Nickelodeon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.