A TikTok video showing former Nickelodeon actor Tylor Chase living on the streets in the Riverside area of Los Angeles has prompted an outpouring of concern from his former colleagues and efforts to help, Hello! Magazine reports.
Chase, who played Martin Qwerly on the 2000s series “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” was featured in the video posted by a fan.
Three of Chase’s former castmates addressed the situation on their podcast, “Ned’s Declassified Survival Guide.” Daniel Curtis Lee, Devon Werkheiser and Lindsey Shaw expressed shock at seeing their former colleague in such difficult circumstances.
“There was some bad news that I received earlier this week about our dear friend Tylor Chase. It was a lot to process for me,” Lee said on the podcast. He questioned the decision to film someone experiencing homelessness, asking, “Why put a camera on someone’s face in hard times?”
Werkheiser described the experience as difficult.
“It is painful and shocking to see where he is currently at… it’s hard to see someone you know and love from a really special time, and a really sweet person, that this is where life has currently ended up, is hard, man,” he said.
Shaw expressed her desire to reconnect with Chase.
“I would love to go speak with him and just love on him and look him in the eye. I miss Tylor, I love Tylor so, so much,” she said.
The three actors said they hope to assist their former costar.
“We’re all hoping we can get Tylor on a better path, we’ll see what we can do here,” Lee said.
Following the viral video, supporters established a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Chase. However, his mother quickly shut down the fundraising effort, explaining that her son’s challenges were medical rather than financial.
“Tylor needs medical attention not money. But he refuses it,” his mother said, according to Hello! Magazine.
“I appreciate your effort. But money would not be a benefit to him. I have gotten him several phones, but he loses them within a day or two. He can’t manage money for his meds by himself.”