Entertainment
Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas blasts reboot as ‘damaging to any survivor’ after claiming she ‘didn’t feel safe’ as a child actress-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
‘What message does that send?’ she said.
Alexa Nikolas has protested outside the Nickelodeon studios on several occasions (Picture: Instagram)
Zoey 101 actor Alexa Nikolas has shared her dismay over the reboot of the Nickelodeon teen drama, saying it sends a ‘harmful’ message to survivors.
The 30-year-old played Nicole Bristow on the programme, which ran from 2005 until 2008 and starred Jamie Lynn Spears and Elvis actor Austin Butler.
The Walking Dead actor has been a vocal critic of her stint on the Nickelodeon sitcom, having previously staged a protest at the firm’s headquarters in California in August.
She claimed she ‘didn’t feel safe’ or that she was ‘protected’ by the studio, while fellow Nickelodeon child star iCarly actor Jennette McCurdy also revealed she allegedly faced abuse there, as detailed in her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died.
It was announced last week that Zoey 101 was being rebooted as a movie, eight years after the final episode aired, with Spears, 31, reprising her role.
Following the news, Nikolas protested again outside the network’s HQ in Burbank on Saturday, stating that she didn’t believe the film, which will see the characters reunite at a wedding, should be made.
Alexa Nikolas said that she didn’t ‘feel safe’ while filming Zoey 101 (Picture: Nickelodeon)
Jamie Lynn Spears will reprise her role in the Zoey 101 reboot (Picture: Nickelodeon(
She told TMZ: ‘It’s damaging to any survivor that wants to come forward. And we want to make sure as a society that we are encouraging survivors to come forward and that we’re not discouraging them.
Nikolas continued: ‘What’s more harmful about it is that future children or adults out there that are wanting to come forward, but are scared about if they’re going to be supported, the entertainment industry is showing the world that we don’t even support the survivors in this mainstream environment.
‘What is that saying? What kind of message to send to survivors out there everywhere?’
Alexa Nikolas claimed the reboot would send out a bad message to survivors (Picture: Nickelodeon)
Nikolas previously opened up about being yelled at by Britney Spears on set, with the Toxic singer going on to issue an apology.
Britney noted that at the time, she was told her younger sister was being bullied on set while she was also pregnant at the time.
Responding to the pop icon’s apology, Nikolas wrote on Instagram: ‘@britneyspears I’m sitting here crying with my jaw on the floor. Thank you for seeing me and listening to me. Thank you for apologizing.
‘As you know I forgive you. You have always been my biggest inspiration and strength since I was 6 years old. You have healed so many childhood wounds for me as an adult.
‘Your voice is POWERFUL. Beyond. I hope you always know that. This is honestly one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me. We forget as a society how much support and love impacts us.
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‘My child self and current self is in awe of the incredible person you are. I always knew that about you. I’m pretty positive so many of us always knew. Thank you for being you and embracing everything that you are.’
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Nickelodeon for comment.
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