Alexa Nikolas.Photo: Alexa Nikolas/Instagram
TheZoey 101alum, 30, claims the network didn’t keep her safe as a child actor and has participated in a protest calling out the network’s working environment for young performers. As a part of her"Eat Predators"movement, Nikolas advocates for better treatment of children in the workforce and is calling for former Nickelodeon actors (whom she calls “survivors”) to be released from non-disclosure agreements she says the network requires talent to sign.
Standing outside of Nickelodeon’s headquarters, Nickolas uploaded a 15-minute advocacy video to herInstagram. “We’re standing outside of ‘Sickelodeon’ hosting Slime Time Live,” she says in the clip.
“My own personal experience at Nickelodeon — as you can see, it says here that Nickelodeon didn’t protect me,” she said of the sign she was holding. “I did not feel protected at Nickelodeon as a child, personally. I’m demanding that Nickelodeon starts protecting children and not predators.”
Nickelodeon has yet to issue a response to any of Nikolas’s claims and did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Alexa Nikolas/Instagram
In a conversation withTMZ, Nikolas emphasized the importance of protecting children in entertainment roles. “I want to make Nick safe for kids, because my personal experience, working onZoey 101, didn’t feel safe,” she said. “I didn’t feel like Nickelodeon was protecting me or had my best interest in mind. After hearing so many different stories from different Nick stars, it just feels like enough is enough.”
Some of Nikolas’s protest included accusing a handful of Nick employees of being “predators” and “enablers.” One sign showed former Nick showrunnerDan Schneiderwith the caption: “The creator of childhood trauma.”
He called the allegations “ridiculous” in a conversation withThe New York Times, adding, “The comedy was totally innocent.”
For Nikolas, revisiting the Nick studios brought back similar, unwanted memories.
“It’s pretty triggering to be here at Nickelodeon today. I didn’t even sleep last night,” she continued. “But I think anyone is redeemable if they actually do the right things moving forward. But they haven’t even given a comment, but I find that really awful because Jennette and all of us deserve an apology.”
source: people.com
