A former child actor has alleged he was dismissed after reporting a suspected pedophile at Universal Studios.
Steven Anthony Lawrence, known for his role in Even Stevens alongside Shia LaBeouf and Christy Carlson Romano, posted on Instagram claiming his termination followed his reporting of suspicious activity.
In his social media post, Lawrence expressed that he delayed sharing the information, hoping to resolve the issue privately without going public.
“I delayed posting this for about a month because I was hoping we could find some sort of amicable solution because I absolutely loved performing and dancing with all you amazing people,” he stated.
While he did not go into detail about the claims, he remarked: “It is with a heavy heart I have to announce that my time with Universal Studios has ended because my Boss and her H.R. wants to retaliate for reporting a suspected pedofile around children.”
Lawrence expressed disappointment over leaving his position but stated he could no longer be connected with the company.
“While I will truly miss my job I cannot be associated with an organization or people that don’t care about performer or guest safety while numerous people continue to get hurt,” he explained.
“With what I know, I WILL NEVER ALLOW MY KID TO GO TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD.
“Be safe everyone.”
In his post, Lawrence included a photo of his work ID and a Super Mario Toad costume.
After these allegations surfaced, Universal Studios responded with a statement, affirming that the concerns were thoroughly reviewed and found to be unsubstantiated.
A spokesperson for Universal Studios Hollywood informed Entertainment Weekly: “We have investigated and reviewed the concerns brought forward by this former employee and they were found to be inaccurate and without merit.
“We take all employee concerns seriously and have established processes for raising any concerns without fear of retaliation.”
Lawrence’s post garnered numerous comments, including supportive messages.
His former co-star, Christy Carlson Romano, expressed her support by commenting ‘Good for you Steven!’ as noted by TMZ.
Besides Even Stevens, Lawrence has appeared in other television series like That’s So Raven, The Amanda Show, and Frasier.
He has also been featured in several films including Rebound, Bratz, and Archie’s Final Project.
We have reached out to Universal Studios for additional comment.