On Monday, actress and Scam Goddess podcast host Laci Mosley (Florida Girls, A Black Lady Sketch Show) opened up about racism she has been receiving on social media since her addition to the iCarly reboot at Paramount+. Upon hearing this disheartening news, producer and writer on the series, Franchesca Ramsey (The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, Superstore), immediately stepped in to bolster Mosley – encouraging fans to call out this behavior in the iCarly community, via Twitter.
iCarly, the Nickelodeon series about proto-influencer and web show host Carly Shay, was given a reboot at Paramount+ that touted the return of original cast members Miranda Cosgrove (Despicable Me, School of Rock), Jerry Trainor (Drake and Josh, T.U.F.F. Puppy) and Nathan Kress (Into the Storm, Video Game High School). In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, promoting the series’ June release, Cosgrove further confirmed that Reed Alexander (iCarly) and Mary Scheer (MADtv, The Penguins of Madagascar) would be reprising their roles as Nevel and Mrs. Benson. Mosley and child actress Jaidyn Triplett (The Affair) mark two new additions to the cast, and promise to add a fresh dynamic to the ensemble and Carly’s life nearly ten years after the original series finale.
According to TVWeb, Mosley’s character Harper is the kind of friend who “[pushes] Carly out of her comfort zone as they confront day to day obstacles.” The two characters are described as roommates and best friends, meaning their chemistry will be crucial to serving both the comedic and sincere notes often driven home in the original series. Additional details about Mosley’s character, provided by TVWeb, include that she identifies as pansexual, is pursuing a career in fashion and came from a once-wealthy household.
In the original Nickelodeon run of iCarly, Jennette McCurdy (Sam & Cat, Between) played Carly’s best-friend and Freddie’s later love interest Sam Puckett. Despite the fact that McCurdy quit acting several years ago, “fans of the original sitcom falsely believe [that Mosley] was replacing Jennette McCurdy’s character” (People). The notion that Mosley was replacing the retired actress seems to have opened the door for the racist attacks the Black actress began to receive across various social media platforms.
“[Mosley’s] character Harper isn’t replacing Sam,” Ramsey addressed this permeating assumption on Twitter “it’s both racist as hell & completely unfair to decide that Laci hasn’t earned her role especially since the show isn’t even out yet!” After sharing details of the racism she received on Monday, Mosley ended the day with longer post on Instagram that reiterated “I’m not “replacing Sam” I’ve never met her but I know she’s extremely talented and I hope she does not condone some of y’all’s behavior.”
Mosley started opening up about the anti-Black racism she had been receiving on Monday on both Twitter and Instagram. The actress even mentioned how her sister had unwittingly been exposed to these attacks on TikTok. “Me and my sister are 13 years apart she’s like my child and her having to see this shit broke me,” Mosley wrote in tweet on Monday.
In response to Mosley’s posts, Paramount+ and iCarly released an official statement denouncing such behavior and embracing their diversity, via Instagram. According to Entertainment Weekly, this post was shared by cast members Cosgrove, Trainor and Triplett on their individual Instagram stories. Ramsey later disclosed on Twitter that Triplett, who plays Freddie’s stepdaughter Millicent, has likewise been receiving racist messages, but that her Instagram account is managed by her parents. While the child actress having social media managed by her parents may help shield her from certain comments, Ramsey adds “that doesn’t make the things being said about her any less hurtful” (Twitter).
Unlike Paramount+’s corporate statement, one of Ramsey’s first tweets on the matter included a clear and specific call-to-action for iCarly fans: “I’d love if you’d join me in calling it out [racist abuse] when/if you see it” (Twitter). A later tweet by Mosley indicated that some took this seriously or at least had reached out to support and affirm the actress. “I can’t believe how scenario that started out so negative has become SO overwhelming positive,” Mosley said of those who rallied around her in a Tuesday tweet. Resolving to focus on the positive, Mosley added that introducing new “boundaries” on social media will help her moving forward, via Twitter.
In her previously mentioned Instagram post from Monday evening, Mosley expressed her pride in the diverse writer’s room on iCarly‘s reboot – tagging Ramsey specifically – as well as showrunner Ali Schouten (Champions, All Night). “I was shocked when celebration of all the hard work we’ve put into making this reboot was overshadowed by the most racism I’ve ever experienced in my life over the course of 72 hours” Mosley added, via Instagram.
To watch the hard work Mosley referred to in action, tune into Paramount+ June 17 to watch the highly anticipated reboot of iCarly. Furthermore, fans of the series can honor Ramsey’s Twitter request by calling out any further racism or hate speech witnessed in the iCarly community.