Former child actress Nicole Eggert has accused Scott Baio of sexual abuse, alleging that he molested her starting at the age of 14 when they both worked on Charles in Charge.
One of the people who has backed up her story is former costar Alexander Polinsky.
In Polinsky’s new statement, he levels some accusations of his own at Scott Baio.
In a statement that Polinsky sent in to The Talk, he reveals:
“Working on the set of Charles in Charge from age 11 to 15 was no picnic, it was a toxic environment.”
Child actors are the most vulnerable people on any set. They deserve better.
“I witnessed Scott Baio acting inappropriately towards Nicole Eggert during my first year of working on the show.”
As Nicole has mentioned, some of Scott Baio’s alleged inappropriate behavior took place on or near the set.
“I walked in on them together behind the set. Nicole was on Scott’s lap and he did not appreciate my intrusion.”
That matches well with what Nicole has described.
“He yelled at me and called me various homophobic slurs.”
A horrible way to treat anyone, but an inexcusable way for a grown man to speak to a child.
This becomes even more upsetting, however, as Polinsky then details his own accusations.
“Growing up on the show I received regular verbal attacks, mental abuse, and I also suffered a physical assault at the hands of Scott Baio.”
What kind of disgusting adult physically assaults a child?
“There is no excuse for his behavior. It is abhorrent.”
He emphasizes Scott’s age difference (Scott Baio is 11 years older than Nicole; his age gap with Alexander is even wider)
“Both Nicole and I were minors. We deserved safe passage to do our jobs and also be kids.”
Polinsky then lays out what he believes needs to change in order to make a safer, better world.
“If we want to change the culture, we have to bring out the truth, take back control from the abusers, and make them listen to the pain of their victims.”
That is true. He also has less abstract advice.
“For the sake of the next generation of young artists we must empower parents and social workers to heed the signals, ask the proper questions, and protect children from monsters in the workplace.”
On-site safety monitors, particularly for children, could be vital to preventing situations like this from happening in the future. And those worried about being “falsely accused” should want that, too.
“The cycle of abuse must stop. Even 30 years after the acts, they still matter.”
As Nicole Eggert has described in detail, Scott Baio allegedly began his sexual abuse of her when she was 14 and he was 25.
He was an adult, he was a star, and he was effectively her boss. And, according to her accusations, he digitally penetrated her in the garage of his house.
The alleged abuse went on about once a week until she was 17, at which point the two had sexual intercourse. From her account, Baio may have lost interest at that point.
She also says that he cautioned her that if anyone found out, the show would be canceled and everyone would lose their jobs.
Nicole Eggert has reported Scott Baio to police, and we note that California law does give prosecutors one year to charge him now that police have been told (despite the time delay; this law was written specifically for situations of child abuse).
For his part, Scott Baio has vehemently denied Nicole Eggert’s accusations.
He has claimed that he and Nicole Eggert had sex, but only after she “seduced” him at his house and only when she was 18.
He has also claimed that he never saw Nicole off of the set of Charles in Charge.
Baio has attacked Nicole, claiming that she cannot be believed because her story has allegedly changed over the years.
Some wonder if there are others mustering the courage to speak out with their own stories of working with Scott Baio.
