“Zoey 101”'s Matthew Underwood Doesn't 'Extend Forgiveness on a Whim' but Believes in 'Growth' After Sexual Assault Reveal

Underwood — who recently disclosed his alleged sexual assault story — is further clarifying his comments following the release of 'Quiet on Set', which unearthed allegations of abuse on Nickelodeon productions

Matthew Underwood is a firm believer that people can learn and grow from their mistakes.

Following the release of ID's Quiet on Set docuseries, which has sparked a conversation about the disturbing behaviors occurring on Nickelodeon productions airing during the late 1990s and 2000s, the former Zoey 101 star disclosed his own alleged sexual assault story. He also addressed the backlash he’d been receiving for not speaking out following the program's initial release since it also explored allegations of abusive behavior by Dan Schneider — a man who created and produced several Nickelodeon kids shows, including Zoey 101.

Underwood, 33, noted that he “never had a bad experience working on set of a Nickelodeon show and I never had a bad experience with Dan.” He also shared his belief that “people have the capacity to be better humans and Dan appears to recognize that he had been an a------ in his past. I like to believe he is fully capable of being a creator and coworker everyone can enjoy working with.” However, days later, the former child star shared another statement addressing how his comments about Schneider, in particular, have been “misunderstood.”

“I have made mistakes in my past, many. I make s----y mistakes every day, that’s just part of life as a fallible human,” the actor — who starred as Logan Reese on Zoey 101 from 2005 to 2008 and reprised the role in last year's Zoey 102 movie — wrote on Reddit, which he described as “further clarification” of his first statement. “I would hate to be judged by what I believed even last year or 10 years ago, because I have grown since then and am not that person today.”

Related: The Biggest Bombshells from 'Quiet on Set,' the Docuseries Alleging Toxic Culture on Nickelodeon Shows

“I do not extend forgiveness on a whim to anyone who asks for it, that would be naive. I simply reserve the idea that it is fully possible that people can recognize their wrongs and people have the capacity to be better,” he continued. “I do not reject apologies when I am angry and I try to not make judgments about their sincerity based on my personal feelings about them. I like to offer opportunities to people to prove themselves to be better and I like to encourage that journey of growth in hopes that they might find fulfillment in being that better person.”

Underwood said he likes to “believe that if we allow people to take that [rehabilitation] journey genuinely, although it might not be an overnight change, it’s possible they can come out the other side better people, and they can set good examples for others who have made s----y mistakes in their own lives.”

Underwood concluded his comments by reiterating that it was his “opinion” on the matter. “When giving someone an opportunity to be better, it’s necessary to intensely scrutinize their recovery and not accept half assed progress. There are no free passes in life, but there doesn’t have to be lifelong hate for anyone either,” he added.

Following the release of the documentary, Schneider, 58, released a statement of his own as he sat down for an on-camera interview with iCarly alum BooG!e, where he admitted: "I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”

“Facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret," the former Nickelodeon producer said. “It was wrong. It was wrong that I ever put anybody in that position. It was the wrong thing to do. I’d never do it today. I’m embarrassed that I did it then. I apologize to anybody that I ever put in that situation."

Related: 'All That' Alum Kenan Thompson Says 'Quiet on Set' Is 'Tough to Watch' and Urges Nickelodeon to 'Investigate More'

Also following the docuseries' release, Underwood shared how he was allegedly "groomed and molested" at age 12 by a friend's father. The experience led him to lose the “best friends I’d ever had because I couldn’t spend any time with them without feeling the personal disgust and betrayal brought on by a man I trusted as a father.”

Underwood also claimed he was “sexually harassed then assaulted” at 19 by his then-agent, “who had spent a decent amount of time building trust with me as a friend and mentor.” The experience led him to “move away from LA” and end his “pursuit of acting,” he said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is now streaming on Max.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.