The Biggest Takeways From Jennette McCurdy's Book 'I'm Glad My Mom Died'
Join L'OFFICIEL as we take a deep dive into the childhood star's shocking memoir.
iCarly star Jennette McCurdy started acting at a very young age. At age six, McCurdy hopped from audition to audition with her mother attached to her hip, which wasn't her choice. McCurdy's acting career stemmed from her people-pleasing nature and pressure from her mom. Prior to her role as Sam on the hit Nickelodeon show iCarly, McCurdy did a string of smaller roles that didn't satisfy McCurdy's mother Debra. The actress can be seen as a background or supporting character in shows like Malcolm in the Middle, Will & Grace, and Law and Order: SVU.
In her new memoir titled I'm Glad My Mom Died, the actress gets candid about her mother's abuse, developing an eating disorder, and her feelings toward former Sam & Cat co-star Ariana Grande. Join L'OFFICIEL as we dissect key takeaways from McCurdy's chilling memoir.
Her Mother's Abuse
In her book, McCurdy details how her mother pushed her throughout her career. From the very beginning, she was put on a calorie-restrictive diet and could only do certain tasks without her mother's say-so. McCurdy even had a specific wardrobe for auditions– "a fuzzy pink shirt with a rhinestone heart in the center of it, black faux-leather skorts, and black gogo boots."
Her mother's influence is what also pushed McCurdy to want to quit acting overall. Eventually, when the actress moved on to her breakout role on Nickelodeon, her mother's rules became even more restrictive. McCurdy mentions in her memoir that she couldn't use the bathroom or shower by herself until she was a teenager. Over time, McCurdy's fixed diet worsened, and so did the star. The actress recalls weighing 61 pounds at about 12 years old, and her mother's encouragement only pushed her further toward an eating disorder.
McCurdy's Time on iCarly
McCurdy's time on iCarly was anything but pleasant. Although her character in the beloved series brought many viewers laughter, the actress was quietly suffering on the inside. McCurdy's mother was also responsible for trying to distance the iCarly actress from her co-star Miranda Cosgrove. Her mother wanted her to stay away from her on-screen best friend "because she doesn't believe in God." Despite her wishes, Cosgrove and McCurdy went on to build a genuine friendship anyway. The author lists Cosgrove as a source of support when recovering from her eating disorder.
"The Creator"
The memoir also relives McCurdy's exploitation at the hands of the Nickelodeon network. In the book, she references someone called the "The Creator," who played a key role in McCurdy's decline. McCurdy recalls a time the two went to dinner together and they forced her to drink alcohol at 18 years old. The unnamed figure claimed the Victorious (another hit Nickelodeon show) cast gets drunk together all the time, and "the iCarly kids need a little edge," she wrote.
This mention in the book also helped readers recall another claim from a Nickelodeon alum about alcohol on set. Former Victorious star Avan Jogia made a TikTok revealing in the comments he didn't remember his time on the Victorious set because he was either drunk or hungover. The comments under the video have since then been deleted. Fans are now left wondering what really went on behind the scenes of their favorite childhood shows.
Her Relationship With Ariana Grande
Since the announcement of her memoir, everyone's been curious about what McCurdy had to say about her former Sam & Cat co-star Ariana Grande, and the star didn't hold back. McCurdy mentioned that she often had to put other endeavors on hold for the series while Grande was allowed to pursue her music career. During the filming of the one-season series, the pop star would have to miss filming to attend award shows or work on her music. The actress grew to be resentful and jealous of the vocalist due to the progression of their careers. McCurdy wrote, "I have to turn down movies while Ariana's off whistle-toning at the Billboard Music Awards."
The actress's anger also stemmed from the show not being the original arrangement made for her spinoff series. The spinoff was initially supposed to follow Sam's life as a former juvenile then later becoming a school counselor. Grande was never mentioned in the deal McCurdy had with "The Creator."
She writes, "When I initially got a development deal with Nickelodeon for my own show a few years ago, I thought it was gonna be just that... my own show. This was supposed to be Just Puckett, the harrowing tale of a brassy juvenile delinquent-turned-school counselor." When her time came to an end with Nickelodeon, McCurdy declares the network offered her $300,000 to not discuss her experience working on the two shows, which the actress forcefully declined.
