We all grew up watching Malcolm in The Middle, one of the great two-thousand-year-old series of life. Although we have great memories of this show, it seems that Erik Per Sullivan, whom many of us remember as Dewey, has a very different and extremely dark version of what he experienced on set. Or at least that is what the rumors say.
Erik Per Sullivan, Who Plays Dewey in Malcolm in The Middle, May Have Suffered Abuse
This is still a complete rumor, but as the days go by it has become much bigger due to the subject’s sensitivity. It seems that fans of Malcolm in The Middle have found a post on Reddit where an anonymous user spoke about the abuse he experienced during his childhood when he was an actor in a “hit TV series”.
Although no name is mentioned, many assured that it could be Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey in the series:
“I was sexually abused by many people during my time on the show, including executives and one of the actors in minor roles. The whole studio knew about it (in fact, the guys who played my brothers were also abused), but they bought our silence.”
This is what the post says. Although it’s just a rumor, many people have taken it as fact, claiming it has changed the way they view the show. The reason many believe it could be Dewey is because the post mentions, “the guy who played our dad is more famous for another role that came after the show ended,” referring to Bryan Cranston, who became widely known for his role in Breaking Bad.
The post continues:
“I turned to opiates to cope and for a few years, it helped me immensely. Now I work a normal 9-5 job and the memories of the sexual abuse is eating me up inside. When I see boys under 12, I think of when I was abused. I hate when people recognize me and want a picture because I remember all those times when a few men would have me pose nude or in speedos or underwear at their Malibu homes.”
Years ago, there were many rumors about the alleged death of Erik Per Sulliban, however, these were denied by the same cast of the series, and even Jane Kaczmarek, who plays Lois, spoke about what the former actor currently does.
“He studies at a very prestigious American university that he has asked us all to keep quiet about, and he loves Charles Dickens. He is doing a postgraduate degree in Victorian literature. I admire it because a lot of people think that being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, it’s not for everyone,” he said in an interview for the Malcolm France site.
What is confirmed about Erik Per Sullivan’s current life is that, indeed, he acted from the age of 7 to 14 in the series, however, he never wanted to continue with his career (which fueled rumors about the possible abuse he would have suffered) and decided to have a private life since then. Currently, the former actor is 33 years old and studied at the University of Southern California.
Although all of this may be a rumor and some state it could be just another Reddit user looking for clout, there may be a new movement of child actors and survivors speaking out (The Diddy case, Nickelodeon’s documentary) and so, if it turns out to be true, we can only hope justice is made.
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If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, please know that you are not alone. Healing can be a difficult journey, but there are people and resources ready to support you. If you need help, please reach out to a trusted individual or a professional. For immediate support, you can contact RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): Call the 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit their website at RAINN.org for confidential online chat services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org for support.
