Keke Palmer, a talented actress and singer is releasing her upcoming memoir, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on November 19. She is opening up about a deeply personal and traumatic experience: being a victim of child-on-child sexual abuse at just 5 years old. 

Her discussion adds to a broader conversation regarding the hidden struggles so many child performers face. This has received an increasing amount of attention in recent years.

Palmer spoke to People magazine about this experience. “People don’t really think about child-on-child molestation, but it’s something that exists,” she said. It is a saddening and disturbing thing that occurs and Palmer is speaking up about it.

The reality of childhood trauma in the entertainment industry has been further illuminated by recent projects like the 2024 documentary series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. It aired on Investigation Discovery and was directed by Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz. 

This five-part series examines the disturbing behind-the-scenes culture of children’s television in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The series follows issues from the abusive behaviors of the adults on set to the long-lasting effects on the young actors. Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider was scrutinized with testimonies from cast members of shows like All That, The Amanda Show, and Zoey 101.

For Palmer, understanding the effects of her childhood trauma was a lengthy process, At age 12, she read a book about sexual abuse and this allowed her to recognize symptoms of anxiety and hyper-sexualization within herself. This recognition allowed her to process her feelings, shifting the focus away from blame and onto awareness.

Palmer’s story along with the revelations from Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, show the harsh truth that many child actors have faced simply just doing their job. These stories highlight the urgent need for greater transparency, accountability, and safeguards in the industry to protect these young performers. By speaking out, individuals like Palmer are helping to break the cycle of silence.