“Days of Our Lives” alum Alison Sweeney joins the chorus of voices responding to the disturbing exposé, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.” The docuseries, which includes accusations from “Drake & Josh” star Drake Bell against former Nickelodeon associate Brian Peck, has prompted Ms. Sweeney to revisit her own childhood experiences in the industry.
Ms. Sweeney, now 47, attributes her flourishing career to a foundation of unwavering parental support. Unlike the stereotypical stage parent, Ms. Sweeney’s folks never pressured her into acting for their own gain. “I had to work hard and get good grades and study and be respectful and follow the rules,” she said, explaining how respect and good grades were unwavering principles that set the boundaries for her success.
Ms. Sweeney vividly remembers a moment when her parents defied industry norms. “I had one incident on the show where there was like a cool stunt they wanted to do and the teacher, who is also like a social worker, expressed concern about me breathing in the smoke or whatever that was going to happen,” she explained. Ms. Sweeney’s mother objected and the crew figured out another way to film the sequence.
Ms. Sweeny noted that it is rare in the entertainment industry for parents of child actors to stand up against producers. “Parents are really intimidated by production schedules and directors.”
Ms. Sweeney’s career reflects this unique upbringing. In addition to starring on “Days of Our Lives,” her career includes several Hallmark movies and a memorable stint on “Friends.” Every milestone holds significance, but collaborating with Jennifer Aniston held a special place in her heart. It was a tribute to Ms. Aniston’s father’s legacy on “Days of Our Lives,” a subtle nod that connected her past with her present success. “It was really cool to work with Jennifer Aniston because, of course, her father played on ‘Days of Our Lives’ for many years before he passed away.”
Now immersed in her latest project, Sweeney marvels at the realization of her childhood aspirations.“I told my dad when I was a little girl that this is what I wanted to do. And to actually be here, like, actually doing it is just an unbelievable dream come true. Sometimes, I just can’t believe it’s my real life.”Celebrities React to ‘Quiet on Set’
Ms. Sweeny joins a list of former child stars who have chimed in on the allegations detailed in “Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.”Josh Peck, who was not involved in the documentary, had previously remained silent on Mr. Bell’s accusations. However, on Monday, he faced criticism from fans following a TikTok video where he lip-synced to a viral sound, mouthing the words: “If I haven’t talked to you since 2023, take that as a [expletive] sign that you don’t exist to me anymore.”
He continued, emphasizing the challenging nature of publicly addressing such experiences: “Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry”.
Devon Werkheiser, known for his role in “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” made a brief reference to Mr. Bell’s abuse allegations during a TikTok live video on Monday. While recording a podcast recap video with former co-stars Lindsey Shaw and Daniel Curtis Lee, Mr. Werkheiser jokingly said: “Daniel, we told you never to speak about that. Get back in your hole, Daniel, and give me your holes,” followed by laughter. Quickly retracting the comment, he remarked, “Sorry, we shouldn’t joke about this. We really shouldn’t … Our set was not like that. No, it’s [expletive] awful. The Drake Bell [expletive], that’s crazy to hear. That is [expletive]. And that never came out, which is really wild. Really wild.” Mr. Bell responded to the video on his X account (formerly Twitter) expressing disgust and dismay. Shortly after Mr. Bell’s post, Mr. Werkheiser apologized for his comments.
