Ariana Grande recently appeared on the “Podcrushed” podcast, co-hosted by Penn Badgley, where she delved into her experiences as a child star. Grande, who gained fame as a teenager through her role on Nickelodeon’s “Victorious,” reflected on her journey and the complexities that came with it. “Victorious” aired from 2010 to 2013, and Grande later reprised her role as Cat Valentine in the spinoff “Sam & Cat,” which lasted for 35 episodes.
Grande shared that she was just 14 when she auditioned for “Victorious” alongside Liz Gillies. The excitement of being cast was palpable, and for young performers like them, it was a dream come true. “We were young performers who just wanted to do this with our lives more than anything, and we got to and that was so beautiful,” Grande said on the podcast. She emphasized the special memories and the privilege of being part of something meaningful for many young viewers.
Despite her gratitude for the experience, Grande admitted that she is currently re-evaluating her relationship with her time on “Victorious.” This reflection comes amid broader discussions about the safety and well-being of child actors in the industry. Neither Grande nor the podcast hosts mentioned “Victorious” creator Dan Schneider by name, nor did they reference the recent Investigation Discovery documentary “Quiet on Set,” which includes allegations of misconduct against Schneider. However, Grande acknowledged the distressing stories from former child actors, referring to them as “survivors.”
Grande stressed the need for a safer environment for child actors, advocating for mandatory therapy sessions and greater parental presence on sets. “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. She also mentioned discussing these issues with Max Martin, who provided her with support during stressful times. Grande highlighted the lack of support many young performers face and the necessity of creating a safer environment.
One of the positive aspects of her time on “Victorious” was the bond she formed with her co-star Liz Gillies. Grande cherished the experience of creating and inhabiting their characters so deeply that it became difficult to separate themselves from their roles. However, she acknowledged that there are still aspects of her experience that she is processing.
While Grande and her “Victorious” co-stars did not appear in the “Quiet on Set” documentary, the show was often cited as an example of inappropriate content on Nickelodeon at the time. Grande did not reference specific scenes during her podcast interview but expressed discomfort when revisiting certain content from the show. She noted that the show’s humor often pushed boundaries, and looking back, some of the innuendos and content were questionable. “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,” Grande said. She admitted feeling upset about some of the content that was not approved for the network but still made its way onto their website.
As a result of her reflections, Grande is advocating for more parental supervision on sets with teen and child actors. She believes that increased oversight and support are crucial for the well-being of young performers. Grande’s insights on the “Podcrushed” podcast shed light on the challenges faced by child stars and the importance of creating a safer environment in the entertainment industry.
