Former child star Amanda Bynes, who rose to fame as a cast member on the hit children's variety show All That on Nickelodeon, made a rare sighting on Tuesday.
While stepping out on a coffee run in Los Angeles, the actress, 37, attempted to keep a low profile in a black graphic t-shirt, leggings and sneakers amid allegations that her former employer harbored a toxic and uncomfortable working conditions for child actors and staff.
Despite feverish interest in her past experience as one of Nickelodeon, the She's the Man star has remained silent about Investigation Discovery's new docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
Bynes was discovered by Dan Schneider, a former top producer at Nickelodeon, who was recently accused of being a 'psychological tormenter by his ex-assistant.
Amanda Bynes, who rose to fame as a cast member on the hit children's variety show All That on Nickelodeon, made a rare sighting on Tuesday
The former child star appeared on All That from 1996 to 2000, before landing her own series, called The Amanda Show (seen above in 1999)
After watching Bynes perform at the Los Angeles Laugh Factory as a kid, he selected her to appear on All That from 1996 to 2000.
She went on to star on her own series, called The Amanda Show, created by Schneider, and became one of the network' biggest stars.
On her latest outing, the Thousand Oaks native, who was placed on two psychiatric holds last year, sported long wavy blonde extensions.
Earlier this week, she informed her TikTok followers that she was 'not longer wearing wigs' and had bought the extensions off Amazon.
'Unfortunately, they are ratting up and getting matted at the ends, so I’m going to buy new extensions and get those installed as soon as possible,' she told her fans.
She added: 'But I really like wearing extensions over wearing wigs. The wigs were just too much for me, so for now I’m rocking extensions again. I had posted about wearing wigs and now I just don’t feel comfortable wearing them anymore.'
In December, she debuted an edgy buzzcut, which she admitted was 'growing out so awkwardly' that she 'absolutely hated' how her hair looked.
Bynes appeared to have a relaxing afternoon as she went from Starbucks to a day of pampering, which included getting her hair and nails done.
While stepping out on a coffee run in Los Angeles, the actress, 37, attempted to keep a low profile in a black graphic t-shirt, leggings and sneakers amid allegations that her former employer harbored a toxic and uncomfortable working conditions for child actors and staff
Despite feverish interest in her past experience as one of Nickelodeon, the She's the Man star has remained silent about Investigation Discovery's new Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV
Bynes appeared to be having a relaxing afternoon as she went from Starbucks to a day of pampering, which included getting her hair and nails done
After getting her hair styled, the retired performer got a French manicure with blue tips.
This marks the first time Bynes has been seen publicly since footage of her and Schneider in a hot tub during a Nickelodeon sketch began circulating on social media.
The full-length clip was shared on X, formerly Twitter, in light of the allegations made in Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV.
The scene in question - which is understood to have been filmed in 2002, when Bynes was around the age of 16 - shows Schneider sitting next to a bikini-clad Bynes for the skit, which he wrote himself, with commentators branding it as 'very uncomfortable.'
The sketch resurfaced in the wake of the documentary that made accusations of child abuse and 'pedophiles on set' before also shining a light on the 'close' relationship that Schneider - who is 20 years Bynes' senior - had with the teenage star.
This marks the first time Bynes has been seen publicly since footage of her and Schneider in a hot tub, when she was underage, during a Nickelodeon sketch began circulating on social media
The clip was taken from Bynes' recurring sketch, simply titled Amanda's Jacuzzi, which saw the young star interview guests while in the bubbling pool.
In the snippet featuring Schneider, who was described as 'Nickelodeon's golden boy,' she begins: 'Hi, welcome to my jacuzzi. Today my special guest is executive producer of The Amanda Show, Dan Schneider.'
Schneider - who is propped up against the sidewall wearing a white vest, navy shirt and sunglasses - smiles and replies with a simple 'hi.'
Bynes, who is wearing just a bikini, quips that as he is also head writer at the channel, 'you actually wrote the words that we are saying to each other right now.'
He agrees that he was the mastermind behind the scene and the pair continue to fool around with giggles and glances toward one another before being handed plates of spaghetti to chow down on.
Recently, a shortened version of the clip was included in the documentary that aired on ID at the weekend - and commentators were quick to share their thoughts.
'When you watch the video it is Amanda Bynes, clearly very young, wearing a swimsuit in a hot tub and next to her is Dan Schneider fully clothed.
'And he is kind of saying, "I created this situation. I am the reason we are in this hot tub. I am pulling the strings." Maybe at the time people viewed it as a comedy but I think now some people are very uncomfortable with the implication,' culture writer Scaachi Koul said.
The sketch resurfaced in the wake of the documentary that made accusations of child abuse and 'pedophiles on set' before also shining a light on the 'close' relationship that Schneider - who is 20 years Bynes' senior - had with the teenage star
Many other commentators recalled Schneider and Bynes being 'very close' - including 'physically'
Elsewhere, many seemed to agree that Bynes became Schneider's 'new favorite' cast member when she arrived at the network as others claimed they were 'edged out.'
Leon Frierson, who worked on All That as a teen, explained: 'There would be times where Amanda would just be missing and a lot of times we would just hear that she would be with Dan - pitching ideas and writing.
'We were seeing them grow closer to each other on set.'
Bynes' own father was reportedly 'very hands-on with her career' and Leon said his presence was 'always felt' due to his relationship with Schneider.
'They carefully crafted Amanda's career. It was enviable for a lot of cast members,' he dished.
Kate Taylor, from Business Insider, told the documentary: 'Dan Schneider's decision to have Amanda be the star of the show is forward thinking in a lot of ways. A lot of adult female comedians do not get their own shows without jumping through a million hoops.'
Koul agreed: 'Dan Schneider was very responsible for Amanda Bynes' career at the point and they were very tied to each other. I think she trusted him.'
Many other commentators recalled Schneider and Bynes being 'very close' - including 'physically.'
Karyn Finley Thompson, who worked as editor on All That, The Amanda Show and Drake and Josh, explained: 'There were many times that I saw Amanda sitting behind him, hugging him or giving him like a neck massage or whatever.
'Dan and Amanda had a close relationship and I didn't think anything different than that. The hot tub scene though I always thought was a little odd.'
'Dan and Amanda had a close relationship and I didn't think anything different than that. The hot tub scene though I always thought was a little odd,' one member of staff said
In more recent years, following her early time in the spotlight, Bynes has suffered mental health issues and spent nine years under a conservatorship which was controlled by her mother Lynn
A statement from Dan Schneider previously issued to the documentary stated: 'Everything that happened on the shows I ran was carefully scrutinized by dozens of involved adults.
'All stories, dialogue, costumes and makeup were fully approved by network executives on two coasts.
'A standard and practices group read and ultimately approved every script, and programming executives reviewed and approved all episodes.
'In addition, every day on every set, there were always parents and caregivers and their friends watching us rehearse and film.'
In more recent years, following her early time in the spotlight, Bynes has suffered mental health issues and spent nine years under a conservatorship which was controlled by her mother Lynn.
The conservatorship began in 2013 after she was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric treatment facility in Pasadena, California following a public meltdown and a string of legal troubles. The protective order ended in 2022.
In June 2023, the She's The Man star was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold, just two months after she was released from a three-week stay at a mental health facility, after she had been found roaming the streets of Los Angeles naked.
Nickelodeon also raised eyebrows under Schneider's leadership with some of its other shows that were 'full of uncomfortable sketches' (pictured with Ariana Grande)
At the time a mental health evaluation had deemed her 'a danger to herself and others' but she was coherent enough to call the police to report that she was in distress.
Her psychiatric hold was subsequently extended by a week as doctors worked to stabilize her.
After she was picked up by police for wandering the streets unclothed, Bynes' former fiancé Paul Michael told Page Six that she had not been taking her prescribed medications prior to the mental health crisis.
Elsewhere in the documentary, Schneider was accused of 'degrading' staff before being sued over accusations of gender discrimination, hostile work environment and harassment.
It was also revealed that three members of staff were charged over child sex abuse to varying degrees - as Drake Bell spoke for the first time about being abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck who was described as 'very much one of the cogs in the Dan Schneider machine.'
Nickelodeon also raised eyebrows under Schneider's leadership with some of its other shows that were 'full of uncomfortable sketches.'
Among them were 'disturbing' scenes that 'sexualized' child stars - including Ariana Grande who featured in scenes sticking her hand down her throat, putting her toes in her mouth, and talking about being 'soaking wet' at the age of 16.
Other parts also showed Ariana trying to get juice from a potato - which involved her squeezing it as hard as possible and letting out loud moaning noises - and attempting to drink water upside down in a provocative position - which resulted in it spilling all over her head and chest.
'It was clear that there was a permissibility around these sexualized jokes with children,' commentators in the documentary shared.
Jennette McCurdy, who found fame on iCarly, detailed her traumatic childhood in her best-selling memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died which was released in August 2022.
Elsewhere in the documentary, Schneider was accused of 'degrading' staff before being sued over accusations of gender discrimination, hostile work environment and harassment
Jennette McCurdy (pictured in 2013), who found fame on iCarly, detailed her traumatic childhood in her best-selling memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died which was released in August 2022
She also spoke in detail about her time on Nickelodeon, and alleged that she was subjected to inappropriate behavior from an unnamed staffer.
'I feel like The Creator has two distinct sides. One is generous and over-the-top complimentary... The other side is mean-spirited, controlling and terrifying,' Jenette wrote.
Jennette claimed she was required to her pose in swimsuits and offered alcohol from someone she referred to as 'The Creator' during her time on iCarly, which first aired when she was 15 - in September 2007 - and concluded when she was age 20 - in November 2012.
'My whole childhood and adolescence were very exploited,' she told the New York Times, while discussing the book. 'It still gives my nervous system a reaction to say it.
'There were cases where people had the best intentions and maybe didn’t know what they were doing. And also cases where they did - they knew exactly what they were doing.'
She also claimed that she was 'terrified of being looked at as a sexual being' and that 'The Creator' once gave her a shoulder massage against her wishes.
Many people have since speculated that she was referring to Schneider who left Nickelodeon in 2018.
At the time, he said he was parting ways to pursue 'other opportunities and projects,' however, the New York Times reported in 2021 that the network cut ties from him due to evidence of 'verbal abuse' towards colleagues.
