Jennette McCurdy reveals her painful experience with a manipulative older man, exposing Hollywood’s power imbalances and her journey toward healing and advocacy for abuse survivors.
Jennette McCurdy, a former child actress, has spoken about her troubling relationship as a teenager with a much older man. She described it as a “compulsive” connection and has opened up about the harsh realities of such situations in Hollywood. Her story shines a light on the hidden issues of power imbalance and complicated relationships within the entertainment world almost like a real-life version of a twisted fantasy romance.
The actress from the old Nickelodeon show opened up on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. She shared how, at just legal age, she started dating a man almost double her age. She met him while working on the “iCarly” set. Her open conversation brings up uncomfortable subjects that stay out of public view. It challenges the polished image often presented of young stars and points out the clear imbalance of power between young actors and experienced industry figures.
Jennette McCurdy, 9 January 2012
Photo credit: LCpl Rebecca Eller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The actress now in her thirties and figuring out the challenges of early adulthood, wrote about this “unsettling” relationship in her 2022 bestselling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. Without revealing the man’s identity, she offered a close look at how he pursued her, shining a light on disturbing topics that are often kept out of public view.
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McCurdy explained that her coworker would “hang around with her in the writers’ room after hours,” pointing out how vulnerable young actors can be in the entertainment world. This difficult relationship shows how outside pressures can affect the mental and physical growth of people in Hollywood creating a strange world where normal limits become unclear.
She shared how he would show her movies he thought she’d like such as “Dazed and Confused.” She admitted she didn’t enjoy it but pretended otherwise. He also shared his music, which she had no real interest in, but she acted like she did. This highlighted the uneven power balance between them similar to a teacher swaying the opinions of a young and impressionable student.
The former “Sam & Cat” actress, now looking back on the relationship with regret, revealed that the man had been living with his girlfriend during their involvement. This sheds light on the complicated and often difficult dynamics that can form off-camera leaving young performers feeling on edge and grappling with their feelings.
“I got small bits of his attention and had to be on call all the time. If he reached out, I answered,” she said. She explained how exhausting it was and called the person “manipulative,” pointing out that he thought about leaving his relationship when she said she might end things herself.
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When things were uncertain, the man—who was very drunk at the time—asked for oral intimacy, which revealed more about how uncomfortable their relationship was. This situation combined with the strain of keeping up a public image, may have played a part in McCurdy’s later struggles with mental health and eating disorders.
“I was so clueless about the whole thing,” McCurdy said. “I told him I felt uncomfortable and unsure. He offered to ‘teach’ me and then went ahead and did it.”
When something unexpected happened in my mouth, I felt so confused. I even questioned if he had urinated. The whole moment left me stunned, she said while sharing the “weird” and “difficult” situation. After he explained things, I realized this was my first encounter with sexual activity.
The actress said she grew up “Mormon and homeschooled,” and had made a promise to avoid “premarital relations” because she felt “too young” and “not ready emotionally.” This shows how a lonely teenage girl new to the fast-moving Hollywood scene often faces external pressures that shape their early experiences.
At first, their interactions were harmless filled with “teenage-like behavior such as heavy petting… and passionate kissing” in the months before the oral encounter. But over time, their physical relationship grew more intense because of an “intricate power imbalance.”
She still remembered his words . “I’m a man in my mid-30s, and this is something I need. I get that you have your own religious limits about premarital relations, but I have my own physical needs too.”
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“In the end, I gave in,” the actress confessed. “I went against the boundary I had set for myself.” McCurdy called their physical moments together “addictive.” She said, “I was always desperate for the feeling it gave me. My body and mind got hooked waiting for the next time. After every moment, I felt drained, but then I’d start longing for the next one all over again. When those moments started happening less often, the relationship just fell apart on its own.”
Their relationship ended after her mother, Debra McCurdy passed away in 2013. They reconnected for a short time after that. This experience played a big part in her struggles with mental health and discovering more about herself. Over time, it pushed her to stand up for abuse survivors and share their journeys of healing and strength.
Jennette talked about her journey while working on her bold new book “Half His Age,” set to hit shelves on January 13. The book dives deep into daring themes and sheds light on troubling times from her life solidifying her place as a daring author willing to confront tough issues head-on.
“Writing is my way to heal and understand my past,” she said. “I didn’t even realize how much unresolved anger I had. This person and that old relationship hadn’t been on my mind for years. But as I wrote this book, I uncovered anger I hadn’t worked through and feelings that still need to be dealt with.”
Later on Wednesday’s episode, Jennette talked about her mom, who passed away, and the abusive behavior she described in detail in her tell-all book. Opening up about her family gave more insight into the difficult factors that influenced her time in the entertainment world and how she became someone who speaks up for abuse survivors.
When asked about how she feels about Debra now, Jennette said, “I’ve gotten to a place where I can just miss her once in a while, and I own getting there.”
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She said her late parent left her “with considerable emotional baggage to sort through,” but she no longer “harbors anger toward her.” This admission shows that McCurdy is still healing and figuring herself out as she moves from being a child star to an adult with a more stable life. By opening up about her recovery, she hopes to connect with others who have dealt with similar struggles.
By talking about tough family issues and serious matters, McCurdy offers a fresh view on what young actors go through in Hollywood. Her experience highlights why it’s so important to keep young actors safe and create a healthier atmosphere in the entertainment world away from the pressures that can cause broken bonds and exploitation of power.
As Jennette grows as a bestselling author and activist, her work highlights the harsh realities of being a child star and brings hope to others facing similar battles. Her path moving from an cautious child actor to a self-assured adult telling her truth, shows how speaking up can lead to healing and personal growth. McCurdy now dedicates her advocacy to raising awareness of the risks of power imbalances in the entertainment industry and supporting people who have experienced similar situations.
If you or someone you know needs help with any of the topics mentioned in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
Source:
Riley Cardoza (January 7, 2026). Jennette McCurdy shares intimate details from ‘addictive’ relationship with much-older man as a teen. Page Six. https://pagesix.com/2026/01/07/celebrity-news/jennette-mccurdy-describes-addictive-relationship-with-much-older-man-as-a-teen/
Header Image: Jennette McCurdy, 9 January 2012
Photo credit: LCpl Rebecca Eller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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