See the Cover for Former Nickelodeon star Jennette McCurdy's Memoir "I'm Glad My Mom Died"
by Marcus Jones
April 4, 2022


Jennette McCurdy is finally ready to share her story.

The former actress best known for playing Sam Puckett on the Nickelodeon series "iCarly" has written a memoir about her time as a child star titled "I'm Glad My Mom Died", that promises to be as hilarious as it is heartbreaking, and EW is exclusively revealing the cover.




McCurdy shares that the book cover had gone through many iterations before landing on the darkly comic final version.

"Confetti spilling out of an urn felt to me like a good way of capturing the humor in the tragedy, but I knew I didn't want to go as far as throwing the confetti or jumping in the air with a huge smile on my face or doing any other kind of body language / facial expression that could read as flippant," she says via email.

"Ultimately I chose a facial expression that I think reads as sincere, a little pained, and a little hopeful."




In "I'm Glad My Mom Died", McCurdy tracks how her domineering mother pushed her towards becoming a Nickelodeon mainstay, which led to anxiety, shame, and self-loathing that manifested into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships.

Things would only worsen when her mom died of cancer right as she took the lead in "Sam & Cat" opposite Ariana Grande.




Having now found therapy, and left acting, McCurdy is ready to talk to fans about her recovery process, writing:

"It was important for me to explore the emotional and psychological abuse I endured during my time as a young performer. I feel I didn't have the tools, language, or support necessary to speak up for myself back then, so this book is a way for me to not only honor that experience and give voice to my former self, but hopefully to encourage young people to speak up for themselves in environments where they may be conditioned to just 'play ball' and 'be a good sport.' (Sorry for the sports idioms, I've never played sports so I have no idea why they're spilling out of me.)"




"I'm Glad My Mom Died" will be published by Simon & Schuster on August 9, 2022, and is currently available for pre-order.

McCurdy will also be narrating the audiobook.

https://ew.com/books/jennette-mccurdy-memoir-im-glad-my-mom-died-cover/

Jennette McCurdy Details the Dark Side of Getting Cast in "iCarly" in "I'm Glad My Mom Died"
by Sydney Bucksbaum
August 2, 2022


Jennette McCurdy had an extremely complicated relationship with her mother — the title of her upcoming memoir, "I'm Glad My Mom Died", spells that out for you in no uncertain terms.

EW has your exclusive first look at the unflinchingly honest, heartbreaking, yet still hilarious book, with two excerpts that detail just how toxic their mother-daughter relationship was.




In "I'm Glad My Mom Died" (available August 9), McCurdy, best known for playing Sam Puckett on the Nickelodeon series "iCarly", looks back at her life and struggles as a former child actor and how her overbearing mother controlled her every move.

As a result, she felt constant anxiety, shame, and self-loathing that led to eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. The book chronicles how those issues only got worse after her mom died of cancer right as the actress went on to star in the 2013 spin-off "Sam & Cat" opposite Ariana Grande.

It wasn't until McCurdy, 30, started therapy and finally stopped acting that she began to take back control of her own life and figure out what she really wants for herself.

https://ew.com/books/jennette-mccurdy-im-glad-my-mom-died-exclusive-excerpt/

Jennette McCurdy says Nickelodeon offered her $300,000 in "hush money" to keep silent on abuse allegations. (https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jennette-mccurdy-icarly-nickelodeon-hush-money-1235334535/)

Jennette McCurdy (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/wgwaf1/this_phony_bizarre_sphere_jennette_mccurdys/) alleges (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/jennette-mccurdy-%E2%80%9Cendured-embarrassments-and-indignities-at-nickelodeon%E2%80%9D-rejected-300-000-offer-by-the-network-to-never-speak-about-her-experiences.4981170/) in her new memoir (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/31350907-jennette-mccurdy-reads-her-dead-stage-mother-to-filth-in-new-memoir) that she was abused (https://dlisted.com/2022/08/05/jennette-mccurdy-claims-nickelodeon-offered-her-300000-in-hush-money/) by a male boss and offered $300000 (https://ew.com/celebrity/jennette-mccurdy-says-nickelodeon-offered-hush-money-alleged-abuse/) in 'hush money' (https://collider.com/jennette-mccurdy-nickelodeon-abuse-allegations-hush-money-comments/) not to talk about it.

http://www.agcwebpages.com/BLINDITEMS/2022/AUGUST.html

57. ENTERTAINMENT LAWYER 08/04 **14** (https://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2022/08/todays-blind-items-behind-scenes.html)

Behind The Scenes: There are some revelations in an upcoming book ("I'm Glad My Mom Died") and it will be great to have them front and center. I don't think it will bring down a producer (Dan Schneider) we want brought down. That part would have already leaked from one of the book reviewers. There are many things left unsaid in the book. They are implied and hinted, but there was only so much knowledge the actress (Jennette McCurdy) who wrote the back had. The powers that be at the network ("Nickelodeon") didn't know what she knew or who she would tell, so attempted to bribe her to stay quiet. That is not a new revelation. It is what is left unsaid in situations such as where this A+ list singer (Ariana Grande) ("iCarly"), who was a B+ list very young actress at the time somehow ended up in the home of an A+ list actor (Tom Hanks). Our author only knows what was told to her. She knows the actress was at the actor's home and was given an explanation. An explanation that told almost nothing. Why was a very young, not even old enough to drink actress who was the special project of the producer there at the home. How many others ended up in the home of the actor from the network? As it turns out, an additional former co-star (Miranda Cosgrove) of the author also spent time at the actor's home as did a former co-star (Victoria Justice) ("Victorious") of the at the time B+ list actress Was this so the A+ list actor could have his ego fed by very young actresses in awe of the actor and willing to fawn over him as they did the producer. Does our actor have a foot fetish and the actresses knew just what to do. How did the producer and the A+ list actor come to know each other. They never worked together or had projects with people they both knew. This was special. Someone needs to take our author's narrow scope of what happened, and dig. "I'm Glad My Mom Died"/Dan Schneider/Jennette McCurdy/"Nickelodeon"/Ariana Grande/"iCarly"/Tom Hanks//Miranda Cosgrove/Victoria Justice/"Victorious" (Jennette McCurdy details the dark side of getting cast in iCarly in I'm Glad My Mom Died excerpt (https://ew.com/books/jennette-mccurdy-im-glad-my-mom-died-exclusive-excerpt/)) (Jennette McCurdy Said She Was Photographed In A Bikini And Given Alcohol While She Was A Nickelodeon Child Star (https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/jennette-mccurdy-memoir-icarly-ariana-grande))

I-Carly's Jennette McCurdy's mother said 'Don't get close to Miranda Cosgrove because she 'doesn't believe in God' (https://www.insider.com/jennette-mccurdy-miranda-cosgrove-friendship-mom-warned-her-memoir-2022-8)

Jennette McCurdy said her mother discouraged her from befriending her "iCarly" costar Miranda Cosgrove because she "doesn't believe in God."

In her new memoir, titled "I'm Glad My Mom Died" and released Tuesday, McCurdy described being raised in a Mormon household, how her mom, Debra McCurdy, pushed her into acting at 6 years old, and how her life changed when she was cast as Sam Puckett in Nickelodeon's "iCarly."

The hit sitcom, created by Dan Schneider, ran for six seasons between 2007 and 2012. McCurdy and Cosgrove starred as the best friends Sam and Carly Shay, respectively, who launched a successful web show with their pal Freddie Benson (Nathan Kress).

McCurdy recalled meeting Cosgrove at her screen test for "iCarly" and immediately thinking the "Drake & Josh" alum was much cooler than her.

"She was leaning against a wall, sipping Coke from a glass bottle and texting on her Sidekick," McCurdy wrote.

McCurdy said she and Cosgrove didn't talk much while shooting the pilot, though they were friendly with each other. But when Cosgrove sent her a gift basket with movie-theater candy and a $100 gift card for the ArcLight theater, McCurdy was moved.

"I'm really surprised that another child actor would be so nice to me," McCurdy wrote. "Usually there's such a sense of competition. This gesture is the opposite of that. I'm touched."

While Cosgrove seemed independent, McCurdy said she was constantly monitored by her overbearing mother, who she said taught her to become anorexic at 11 years old and was critical of her acting.

"On set, Miranda said cuss words like '****' and 'ass,' and she took the Lord's name in vain at least 50 times a day," McCurdy wrote in her memoir. "Mom warned me not to get too close to Miranda because she doesn't believe in God. (Nathan is OK for me to get close to, Mom says, because he does. 'Southern Baptists are no Mormons, but at least we've got Jesus in common.)"

She added: "Even though Mom said not to get close to Miranda, I really wanted to. I wanted some of her coolness to rub off on me. And she seemed nice too, which is hard to be if you're cool.

"I had my fingers crossed that somehow, despite our mutual shyness, a friendship between us would develop." Their friendship eventually grew over the instant-messaging service AIM.

"Miranda and I spent hours talking every day on it," McCurdy said. "Sometimes if Mom walked past and asked me what I was doing, I'd tell her I was talking to Miranda, but most of the time I'd shrink the AIM text bubble, lie, and say I was doing schoolwork. She didn't question me. She'd leave the room and then I'd pull the text bubble back up and start laughing."

She added: "Even though in person Miranda seemed shy and quiet, she had a distinct and hilarious personality through her written words. So many of the things she said made me laugh. Her way of observing things — people, habits, human nature. I loved her. And I was so excited we were becoming friends."

McCurdy feared that their friendship would dissipate once "iCarly" concluded, but in her memoir, she said their bond became "stronger."

She said that three years after the show ended, her friendship with Cosgrove was "a source of camaraderie and emotional support." McCurdy added that Cosgrove was "very supportive" of her eating-disorder recovery.

The actor said they had "drifted apart" in more recent years but that Cosgrove reached out to her about joining Paramount+'s "iCarly" revival series.

McCurdy, who quit acting several years ago, declined to reprise her role to prioritize her "mental health and happiness."

I-Carly's Jennette McCurdy's mother said 'Don't get close to Miranda Cosgrove because she 'doesn't believe in God' (https://www.insider.com/jennette-mccurdy-miranda-cosgrove-friendship-mom-warned-her-memoir-2022-8)

Jennette McCurdy said her mother discouraged her from befriending her "iCarly" costar Miranda Cosgrove because she "doesn't believe in God."

In her new memoir, titled "I'm Glad My Mom Died" and released Tuesday, McCurdy described being raised in a Mormon household, how her mom, Debra McCurdy, pushed her into acting at 6 years old, and how her life changed when she was cast as Sam Puckett in Nickelodeon's "iCarly."

The hit sitcom, created by Dan Schneider, ran for six seasons between 2007 and 2012. McCurdy and Cosgrove starred as the best friends Sam and Carly Shay, respectively, who launched a successful web show with their pal Freddie Benson (Nathan Kress).

McCurdy recalled meeting Cosgrove at her screen test for "iCarly" and immediately thinking the "Drake & Josh" alum was much cooler than her.

"She was leaning against a wall, sipping Coke from a glass bottle and texting on her Sidekick," McCurdy wrote.

McCurdy said she and Cosgrove didn't talk much while shooting the pilot, though they were friendly with each other. But when Cosgrove sent her a gift basket with movie-theater candy and a $100 gift card for the ArcLight theater, McCurdy was moved.

"I'm really surprised that another child actor would be so nice to me," McCurdy wrote. "Usually there's such a sense of competition. This gesture is the opposite of that. I'm touched."

While Cosgrove seemed independent, McCurdy said she was constantly monitored by her overbearing mother, who she said taught her to become anorexic at 11 years old and was critical of her acting.

"On set, Miranda said cuss words like '****' and 'ass,' and she took the Lord's name in vain at least 50 times a day," McCurdy wrote in her memoir. "Mom warned me not to get too close to Miranda because she doesn't believe in God. (Nathan is OK for me to get close to, Mom says, because he does. 'Southern Baptists are no Mormons, but at least we've got Jesus in common.)"

She added: "Even though Mom said not to get close to Miranda, I really wanted to. I wanted some of her coolness to rub off on me. And she seemed nice too, which is hard to be if you're cool.

"I had my fingers crossed that somehow, despite our mutual shyness, a friendship between us would develop." Their friendship eventually grew over the instant-messaging service AIM.

"Miranda and I spent hours talking every day on it," McCurdy said. "Sometimes if Mom walked past and asked me what I was doing, I'd tell her I was talking to Miranda, but most of the time I'd shrink the AIM text bubble, lie, and say I was doing schoolwork. She didn't question me. She'd leave the room and then I'd pull the text bubble back up and start laughing."

She added: "Even though in person Miranda seemed shy and quiet, she had a distinct and hilarious personality through her written words. So many of the things she said made me laugh. Her way of observing things — people, habits, human nature. I loved her. And I was so excited we were becoming friends."

McCurdy feared that their friendship would dissipate once "iCarly" concluded, but in her memoir, she said their bond became "stronger."

She said that three years after the show ended, her friendship with Cosgrove was "a source of camaraderie and emotional support." McCurdy added that Cosgrove was "very supportive" of her eating-disorder recovery.

The actor said they had "drifted apart" in more recent years but that Cosgrove reached out to her about joining Paramount+'s "iCarly" revival series.

McCurdy, who quit acting several years ago, declined to reprise her role to prioritize her "mental health and happiness."

Jennifer Aniston to Play Jennette McCurdy’s Mother in I’m Glad My Mom Died Series Adaptation for Apple TV+
by Ryan Schwartz
July 1, 2025


Jennifer Aniston has lined up her next role — and it’s a juicy one. She is set to headline I’m Glad My Mom Died, a series adaptation of Jennette McCurdy‘s acclaimed memoir of the same name.

McCurdy will write, executive-produce and show-run the 10-episode series alongside Ari Katcher (Ramy). Aniston, Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters) and Jerrod Carmichael are also EPs.

https://tvline.com/news/jennifer-aniston-im-glad-my-mom-died-jennette-mccurdy-tv-show-1235469178/