Nickelodeon viewers have said that understanding the spooky backstory of Amanda Bynes’ character’s moniker on her titular programme has wrecked their childhoods.
On the children’s television show The Amanda Show, she was known as Penelope Taynt, which a writer felt was a purposeful allusion to taint, the region between the anus and the posterior part of the external genitalia in filthy slang.
After discovering the horrific meaning of the name on the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, fans on X were appalled, with Tina stating it made them ‘want to puke’ and Ian adding it was ‘disturbing.’
Agreeing with them, Vianey added: ‘What was left of my innocence is gone.#QuietOnSet.’
Account Illixie remarked: ‘Penelope “Tate” all these years I thought it was “Tate” and to find out it was “Taynt” sick ass stuff Talk about childhood memories completely ruined.’
Queen of Sting said the revelation made their ‘skin crawl’ while a revulsed Kimberly Brown commented: ‘#QuietOnSet was not ready for that Penelope Taynt part. Will never look at any of the shows from my childhood the same.’
Christy Stratton, writer for The Amanda Show, disclosed the terrible meaning on Investigation Discovery’s Quiet on Set, a four-part series that investigates accusations of ‘toxic and deadly environments’ behind Dan Schneider-helmed shows.
Talking about Penelope Taynt’s name, Christy said on the show according to The Mirror: ‘He came up with the name Penelope Taynt. The taint is a part of the body that is between the penis and the anus. It’s that skin there, that’s the taint.
‘Dan had said to us in the writers’ room “Don’t tell what this word really means,” he wanted us to keep that a secret.’
In addition to The Amanda Show, Schneider was responsible for All That, Zoey 101, iCarly, and other projects.
Amanda, now 37, began her career as a child star on All That and then on its spin-off series The Amanda Show.
After being released from a conservatorship in 2022, the Easy A actress has taken a step back from the spotlight.
#QuietOnSet was not ready for that Penelope Taynt part .
Will never look at any of the shows from my childhood the same . pic.twitter.com/SwYe3iYZ92— kimberly Brown (@kimberl21091109) March 18, 2024
Penelope Taynt. Penelope… taint.
What was left of my innocence is gone.#QuietOnSet pic.twitter.com/cQf9n3QS23— Vianey (@vinnyelizabeth) March 18, 2024
So Dan made the name Penelope Taynt meaning sexual terms and he told the writers not to say anything and not one writers said this is wrong or that this is disgusting? WTF 🤬 #QuietOnSet
— Ian ✌🏾 (@GRoddy3x) March 18, 2024
Learning about the story of Penelope Taynt’s name makes my skin crawl. Dan Schneider is sick #QuietOnSet
— Queen of Sting 🐝 (@DaQueenJBee) March 18, 2024
the story behind penelope taynt’s name (a character from the amanda show) makes me actually want to vomit
— tina (@tinuhxo) March 18, 2024
Penelope “Tate” all these years I thought it was “Tate” and to find out it was “Taynt” sick ass stuff
Talk about childhood memories completely ruined
— ILLIXIE (@kagomebae) March 18, 2024
In December, Amanda abruptly ended her podcast after launching it.
Instead, she stated that she intended to direct her energy elsewhere, becoming a manicurist.
‘The 1st episode of my podcast did really well..,’ Amanda wrote on Instagram. ‘I was actually surprised and of course was going to keep going after friends encouraged me to..
‘After thinking about it, though, I would rather get my manicurist license and have a consistent job.’
The Amanda programme was a sketch comedy and variety programme that aired from 1999 to 2002. It featured famous spoofs of Judge Judy and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
The cast also included Drake Bell, Nancy Sullivan, John Kassir, Raquel Lee, and Josh Peck.
Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is available to stream on Max.