> At a Glance
> – Jennette McCurdy says she was 18 when a man in his 30s pursued her on set
> – The relationship inspired her novel Half His Age, out Jan. 20, 2026
> – She now sees the “red flags”: beer-stained shirts, secret hotel meets, and pressure for oral sex
> – Why it matters: McCurdy’s story spotlights power imbalances that can trap young performers
Jennette McCurdy has turned her own Hollywood coming-of-age ordeal into fiction. On the Call Her Daddy podcast, the 33-year-old author detailed how an older co-worker groomed her on set-material that now fuels her forthcoming book Half His Age.
From Set Flirting to Secret Hotel Rooms
McCurdy says the man joined her show when she was 18 (possibly 17) and quickly singled her out. After-hours movie nights on the lot morphed into late-night visits to her apartment.
> “He comes over really drunk… beer stains on his shirt… I’d never had alcohol, so I didn’t grasp how drunk he was.”
Their contact stayed “high-school level” for months-making out and dry-humping-because McCurdy clung to her Mormon no-sex-before-marriage rule. Still, the age gap felt thrilling.
- She believed she was “so mature” for captivating an older guy.
- He praised her brains, claiming he “couldn’t talk to anyone this way.”
- Co-workers’ wives greeted her with tight-lipped smiles; “now I see they hated his guts.”
Pressure Escalates After Her Mom’s Hospitalization
While McCurdy’s mother was dying, the man demanded she “meet his needs.” He cited his mid-30s libido and live-in girlfriend, pushing for oral sex in a Sheraton near Universal.
> “I don’t know what that is… He explains, ‘I’ll guide you through it.'”
McCurdy obliged, then felt “confused” and used. Phrases like “I have to know my needs will be met” kept her cycling back to him.
| Key Moment | McCurdy’s Age | His Age |
|---|---|---|
| First on-set flirt | 17-18 | 30s |
| Hotel incident | 18 | mid-30s |
| Book release | 33 | – |
Key Takeaways
- McCurdy frames the “special” label as bait for a powerless teen desperate for control.
- Older colleagues exploited her work-isolated world and virginal background.
- Half His Age fictionalizes the dynamic, aiming to warn other young performers.
Pre-orders for Half His Age are live now ahead of its January 20, 2026 debut.
