Kenan Thompson Lost Major Earnings As A Child Star To Con Artist

Demi Lovato’s new documentary “Baby Star” affords an in-depth take a look at the complexities of rising up within the highlight, that includes candid reflections from fellow actors like Kenan Thompson, Drew Barrymore, Raven-Symoné, and others.

The Hulu particular, which debuted on September 17, marks Demi’s directorial debut and highlights her personal experiences with little one stardom whereas advocating for improved protections for younger entertainers.

46-year-old comic Kenan Thompson, who kickstarted his profession with a string of roles at Nickelodeon earlier than making a serious leap to “Saturday Evening Reside” in 2003, opened up a few cycle of “rags to riches after which again to rags” he confronted throughout his childhood.

After all, with fame typically comes substantial paychecks, which, for younger stars, can really feel extra like a treasure trove of sweet and toys relatively than a monetary asset to be saved for the long run. Thankfully, many of those younger celebrities had mother and father who had been there to show them the worth of a greenback.

“That first business after they paid me, it was $800,” Thompson instructed Lovato about his journey as a baby star. “I used to be 12 so that will as nicely have been 1,000,000 {dollars}.”

As Thompson’s rise to stardom continued, he admitted he went from “rags to riches after which again to rags” once more after operating right into a con artist.

“In Florida, they didn’t have the identical labor legal guidelines,” he instructed Lovato. “My mother met this dude both by way of church or the neighborhood who claimed to be good at getting you out of your tax issues. He was mainly a con artist and ran away with my largest earnings as much as that time.”

“By the point it was found, it was on the finish of that Nickelodeon tenure,” the star added. “It was devastating as a result of I found it in entrance of others. I used to be going to purchase a home in Atlanta — my first residence — and he didn’t present up with the f-cking verify.”

Cash is one thing that one other little one star, Raven-Symoné, opened up about within the docuseries, telling Lovato, “I knew it was work instantly. My mother and father made certain that I understood this was a job. I receives a commission for it and also you present up professionally.”

She added, “[You know what money is] if you find yourself instructed how a lot you’re getting paid for the job that you simply do. So I knew at 3 how a lot I used to be making and I understood it was a job. In case you lose it, you don’t make that cash.”

Thompson started his profession as a baby performer, turning into an authentic solid member of the teenage sketch present “All That” and showing alongside Kel Mitchell within the sitcom “Kenan & Kel” and the movie “Good Burger,” all produced by Nickelodeon.

Whereas he was not a part of the bombshell docuseries “Quiet On Set: The Darkish Aspect Of Children TV,” which revealed behind-the-scenes work environments that little one stars handled, he did break his silence, telling Tamron Hall that his coronary heart is with all of these kids who suffered any abuse.

“It’s a troublesome topic. It’s robust for me as a result of I can’t actually converse on issues that I by no means witnessed,” he mentioned, per Variety. “All this stuff occurred after I left, mainly. Dan [Schneider] wasn’t actually on ‘Kenan & Kel’ like that. He acquired a ‘Created by’ credit score, however it was a unique showrunner.”

Thompson added, “All that negativity form of began occurring outdoors of our tenure [at Nickelodeon]. I wasn’t actually conscious of a whole lot of it, however my coronary heart goes out to anybody that’s been victimized, or their households.”

“It’s factor that the doc is out and it’s placing issues on show that must be, tales that must be instructed for accountability’s sake. Nevertheless it’s positively robust to look at as a result of I’ve fond recollections of that place,” the comic continued. “I’ve fond recollections of my co-stars. To listen to that they’ve gone by way of horrible issues like that, it’s actually robust.”

When Corridor talked about that the discuss present had contacted Nickelodeon and the community had acknowledged it was investigating all allegations, Thompson interjected: “Properly, examine extra. It’s purported to be a protected house. It’s purported to be a protected place for youths. So to listen to all that’s like, ‘How dare you.’”

“Baby Star” is now streaming on Hulu, whereas “Quiet On Set: The Darkish Aspect Of Children TV” is airing on MAX.