iCarly: The Reason(s) Jennette McCurdy Isn't Reprising Her Role as Sam 0 Shares Between new storylines with familiar faces — including a Spencer that curses and a Freddie with a stepdaughter — there's a lot to look forward to come June 17 when the iCarly reboot premieres on Paramount+. Unfortunately, Carly's BFF and one of the original characters, Sam, isn't one of them. According to two recent episodes of her podcast Empty Inside, actress Jennette McCurdy, who played Sam, won't be in the reboot. McCurdy has retired from acting and has no interest in returning, least of all the iCarly universe. iCarly producer Dan Schneider created a "hellish" working environment that damaged her mental health so severely that it made it difficult to come to set. According to McCurdy, not only was he abusive towards the young female actresses, he also had an inappropriate obsession with their feet. McCurdy chose not to go into specifics beyond that, but shared, "I was a famous 19-year-old and making a bunch of money and I felt like I had everything at my fingertips. But I was deeply unhappy and I actually really resented my life."