More actors have come forward to speak out about the documentary ‘Quiet on Set’, even after it has been airing for a month on platforms, and it’s because it’s a topic that has impacted many, despite being an open secret. Realizing that you enjoyed the TV shows you watched as a child and that in reality your favorite celebrities went through hell during the shoots, is something very difficult to process.
Jaleel White, star of ABC’s ‘Family Matters’, told Today that he feels blessed to have been in productions where he was taken care of, and they always ensured his integrity as a child actor.
Jaleel White’s Career
Jaleel White portrayed Steve Urkel in the television series ‘Family Matters’, which began airing in 1989. JW has mentioned that he is very grateful to his mother for taking care of him during those years of his childhood spent on set, and although she wasn’t perfect, she always kept him away from the dangers of the industry. According to TMZ, Jaleel shared:
“For one thing, she was a helicopter mom. She was all over my ass because the kids that are left alone are the ones that the predators tend to seek out.”
And his words precisely remind us of what happened to Drake Bell, if you’ve already seen the documentary, you’ll know that the story is even more devastating than it seems when you read about it in an article. Hearing how Drake was ensnared in a situation he couldn’t escape from until it was too late is heartbreaking.
A few days ago, Drake came to the defense of parents who are inexperienced in the industry just like their child actors, and he commented that it’s not their fault when predators attack children because they don’t know the industry well, but… without intending to judge the parents, or Drake, Jaleel’s mother is concrete proof that you don’t need to be an expert in the industry to know that your child is in danger and to act on protective instinct…
Anyway, not all child actors go through situations like Drake’s, some kids don’t go through that, like Jaleel, Kenan Thompson, etc., who although they did comment on the documentary, mentioned that they were not abused. Nevertheless, they have stated that they support their industry peers who suffer behind the doors of TV networks.