Was Jennette McCurdy groomed? Inside the “addictive” age-gap relationship she just revealed
Jennette McCurdy opens up about a toxic teenage relationship. Image Source: Call Her Daddy/YouTube
Former Nickelodeon star Jennette McCurdy has shared deeply personal details about a toxic and age-inappropriate relationship she experienced as a teenager, offering new insight into the power dynamics that shaped her early years in Hollywood.
Speaking on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, the 33-year-old author and actress revealed that she was 17 or 18 years old when she became involved with a man in his mid-30s, whom she met while working on the set of iCarly. The relationship, which she previously described in her bestselling 2022 memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, is explored further as she prepares to release her debut novel, Half His Age, later this month.
A Relationship Defined by Power, Secrecy, and Exhaustion
McCurdy described the relationship as “addictive,” “creepy,” and emotionally draining, explaining that she was often placed at the man’s “beck and call” while receiving only fragments of his attention.
According to McCurdy, the man was living with another woman when the relationship began. Despite that, he cultivated intimacy by spending time with her after work, introducing her to films and music she pretended to enjoy in order to gain approval.
“It was just exhausting,” McCurdy said, recalling how she was expected to be available whenever he called, often for brief, secretive encounters.
Sexual Pressure and a Disturbing Loss of Innocence
One of the most unsettling revelations involved McCurdy’s introduction to sexual activity. Raised Mormon and homeschooled, she said she had planned to wait until marriage and felt emotionally unprepared for intimacy.
She recounted an incident in which the man, while intoxicated, pressured her into a sexual act she did not understand, later realizing it marked her first experience with sex. McCurdy said the encounter left her confused, uncomfortable, and ashamed, highlighting the imbalanced power dynamic at play.
“There were phrases like, ‘I’m a mid-30s man and this is something I need,’” she explained, noting how her boundaries were gradually eroded.
Why the Relationship Felt “Addictive”
McCurdy described the emotional cycle of anticipation, intimacy, and emotional crash as something that hijacked her nervous system, keeping her trapped despite growing discomfort.
“That’s the thing I’m chasing,” she said. “After, there’s the crash. Then it ramps up again.”
The relationship ultimately ended around the time of her mother Debra McCurdy’s death in 2013, though the pair briefly reconciled afterward.
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Writing as a Path to Closure
McCurdy said revisiting the relationship while writing Half His Age forced her to confront unresolved anger she didn’t realize she still carried.
“Writing is my way to closure,” she explained. “I didn’t realize how angry I still was until I started working through it.”
The novel draws heavily from her experiences with age-gap relationships, exploitation, and emotional manipulation, themes that mirror much of her real-life trauma.
Reckoning With Her Mother’s Legacy
During the podcast, McCurdy also reflected on her complex relationship with her late mother, whose emotional abuse she documented in her memoir. While she acknowledged lasting harm, she said she has reached a place where she can miss her mother without anger.
“That’s something I’ll take full credit for,” she said.
A Broader Conversation About Child Stardom
McCurdy’s revelations add to ongoing conversations about exploitation in the entertainment industry, particularly involving child actors and unchecked power dynamics on set. By speaking openly, she continues to position herself as a leading voice in Hollywood’s reckoning with its past.
FAQ
What did Jennette McCurdy reveal in her latest interview?
She shared disturbing details about a teenage relationship with a much older man, describing it as emotionally exhausting, sexually coercive, and psychologically addictive.
How old was Jennette McCurdy during the relationship?
She said she was 17 or 18, while the man involved was in his mid-30s.
Did Jennette McCurdy name the man?
No. She has chosen not to reveal his identity.
Why does Jennette McCurdy describe the relationship as “addictive”?
She explained that the emotional highs and lows created a cycle of anticipation and emotional crashes that kept her psychologically attached.
Is this discussed in her new book Half His Age?
Yes. The novel draws heavily from her experiences with age-gap relationships and emotional manipulation.
How does this connect to her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died?
The relationship was first mentioned in her memoir, but the podcast and upcoming novel expand on the emotional and sexual impact.
Why is Jennette McCurdy speaking out now?
She says writing and speaking publicly help her process unresolved trauma and reclaim her narrative.
