Former child star Melissa Joan Hart responded to allegations made in Investigation Discovery's (ID) recently released docuseries on Nickelodeon Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
The docuseries, released earlier this month, made a number of allegations of abuse against former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider along with sexual assault of minors by several crew members.
Hart starred on the network's Clarissa Explains it All from 1991 to 1994 and said her experience with Nickelodeon was a complete contrast to the experience of others featured in ID's documentary.
“I don’t know other people’s experiences and I’m not negating anything anybody else says,” Hart said, per Deadline. “I’ve never been told these people’s stories that are in the [documentary]. And I have to say, I’ve never heard a story from a Nickelodeon star personally, nobody’s come to me and talked to me about any of these situations.”
“I absolutely trust them, believe them, one hundred percent," Hart added.
Hart noted her show was filmed in Orlando rather than other shows later filmed in Hollywood.
“In Orlando, I had nothing but a wonderful experience,” Hart said. “They did work the kids a lot harder than they probably legally should. We had a ton of fun, it was just long hours, that’s all – because I had to do school and the show.”
The former child star lauded cast and crew she worked with at the time.
“I was surrounded by an amazing crew, an incredible cast that took such good care of me. I mean, these people were protective of me,” she continued. “I have to say, not every egg in the Nickelodeon basket is rotten. There were some good eggs – there were some people that really took care of me.”
During the documentary, Drake Bell came forward revealing he had been sexually abused by Nickelodeon's Brian Peck during his time on The Amanda Show.
In 2003, Peck was arrested on 11 charges, including sodomy, lewd act on a child of 14 or 15 by a person 10 years or older, and oral copulation through anesthesia or controlled substance. Peck was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender after pleading no contest.
The victim of Peck’s assault was not known at the time, though Bell revealed during the documentary’s filming that he was the child involved in the crimes that led Peck’s arrest.
A spokesperson for Nickelodeon provided a statement to Variety addressing content discussed in the documentary.
“Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy 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,” the statement read. “Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.”
“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,” Nickelodeon’s statement concluded.
