By Entertainment Desk
July 22, 2025
Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell has called out the network for allegedly failing to pay residuals to its former child actors — despite their shows still generating revenue through streaming and syndication.
Speaking on The Unplanned Podcast, the Drake & Josh actor claimed that he, like many other Nickelodeon stars from the early 2000s, was locked into one-time payment contracts during childhood — meaning he receives no royalties when his shows re-air or stream, including the recent Netflix revival of Drake & Josh.
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“We Don’t Get Residuals” — Bell Breaks the Illusion
“The perception is, ‘You were on Nickelodeon, you must be rich,’” Bell said. “But that’s far from the case.”
Bell, now 39, explained that the contracts for young performers were not designed with long-term financial benefits in mind, unlike adult actors in prime-time sitcoms.
“Most of us on Nickelodeon — we don’t get residuals for our shows. Drake & Josh is trending on Netflix, and I’m trying to figure out how to pay rent.”
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“It’s a Lot of Evil, Corrupt People”
Bell did not mince words about the industry executives responsible for those early contracts:
“There’s no other answer. It’s a lot of evil, corrupt people. They do everything to us mentally and emotionally, and then throw us to the wolves.”
He expressed frustration that the studios are still profiting off content created years ago — while the actors behind them see none of that revenue.
“There are three channels doing marathons. Netflix just bought it, it’s top 10, and I don’t see a dime.”
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A Stark Contrast: Friends Cast Still Earning Millions
Bell compared his experience to that of the cast of Friends, who continue to earn massive payouts decades after the show ended.
“Each cast member makes over $20 million a year in syndication alone — and they’re not even working anymore. Meanwhile, I get nothing. That’s the difference.”
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“This Is Basically Child Labour”
The singer-actor, who previously shared his personal trauma in the 2024 docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, went even further, labeling the exploitation as modern-day child labor.
“We’re putting in all this work. These corporations are making billions off us, and we’re only being paid for the week of work.”
Even more shocking, he said many of the contracts contain terms like:
“In perpetuity, across universes and galaxies and planets.”
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The Bigger Picture: Hollywood’s Child Star Problem
Bell’s revelations echo long-standing concerns about how the entertainment industry has treated its youngest stars — from lack of financial safeguards to emotional exploitation and zero control over long-term rights.
His comments are part of a growing movement demanding fairer contracts, residual rights, and mental health support for child performers.
