Why is Sam not in the iCarly reboot?

In December 2020, news broke that an iCarly reboot, which would take place 10 years after the original series, was in the works with Cosgrove, Kress and Trainor reprising their roles. However, one main cast member who would not be returning was McCurdy, who confirmed in an episode of the podcast, “Empty Inside,” in March that she would not be in the revival. So why is Sam in the iCarly reboot? Well, McCurdy had quit acting after years of resenting her career. “My mom put me in it when I was 6, and by sort of age, I guess, 10 or 11 I was the main financial support for my family,” she said. “It was very much the pressure of my family didn’t have a lot of money, and this was the way out,” she said. “Which I actually think was helpful in driving me to some degree of success.”

McCurdy’s mom, Debbie, died in September 2013 after a 17-year-long battle with breast cancer. On the podcast, McCurdy revealed that her mom’s death led her to reevaluate her acting career and roles she’s played in the past, including Sam. “I ultimately quit after my mom passed away, because with her death kind of died a lot of her ideas for my life, and that was its own journey and a difficult one for sure,” she said. She went on to reveal that her acting career left her “so unfulfilled by the roles that I played and felt like it was the most just cheesy, embarrassing” thing. She continued, “I resent my career in a lot of ways.”

In the iCarly reboot, Laci Mosley will play Harper, Carly’s roommate and one of her best friends. According to the show’s press release, Harper, who is pansexual, is described as an aspiring fashion stylist who dreams of a career in fashion after her wealthy family lost all of their money. After the announcement of Harper, Mosley was the target of racist attacks from who saw the character as a replacement for Sam. iCarly writer Franchesca Ramsey responded in a tweet at the time, defending Mosley and denying that the character was meant to replace Sam.

https://twitter.com/chescaleigh/status/1394068353774284803?s=20

Carly’s new best friend/roommate will be part of the LGBTQ+ community as a pansexual character who dreams of becoming a fashion stylist after her wealthy family lost all of their money. The character will also serve to push Carly out of her comfort zone as they confront day to day obstacles. “Hey #iCarly tweeps! I’m seeing a looooot of racist abuse being hurled at one of our stars & I’d love if you’d join me in calling it out it when/if you see it,” she tweeted in May. “I’m sad this has to be said but if I’m being honest…I kinda expected it. And I hate that. It’s heart breaking that Black women just EXISTING results in an onslaught of racist abuse. It’s not ok. And being a bystander isn’t ok either.”

She continued, “Laci’s character Harper isn’t replacing Sam. No one could replace Jeanette McCurdy or her incredible talent! But 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!!”

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in June, Cosgrove confirmed that the show will address Sam’s absence. “Definitely, we touch a lot on the whole relationship with Sam and where Sam’s at in the pilot episode,” she said. “And then we mention her a little bit throughout the season, so we’ll definitely explain that on the show.”

The iCarly reboot is available to stream on Paramount+.

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Source: Stylecaster.com