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Rising Brooklyn star stays positive as Nickelodeon pulls 'Made By Maddie' series

Her voice is captured in Nickelodeon's animated series "Made By Maddie," which was set to be released in just a few days -- but the show has taken another course of action amid controversy.

News 12 Staff

Sep 5, 2020, 6:10 PM

Updated 1,595 days ago

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A rising star from Brooklyn who acts and sings is keeping positive in the midst of a small setback.
At age 11, Alyssa Cheatham has already starred in 11 movies. Her voice is captured in Nickelodeon's animated series "Made By Maddie," which was set to be released in just a few days -- but the show has taken another course of action amid controversy.
The young star was pumped to play an 8-year-old fashionista who lives to design and create. But Nickelodeon is reportedly pulling the animated series that was set to premiere in just a few days due to a controversy surrounding similarities between the characters and those in the Oscar-winning short "Hair Love."
News 12 reached out to Nickelodeon, which said in a statement, "'Made by Maddie' is a show we acquired several years ago from Silvergate Media, a renowned production company we have previously worked with on other series. Since announcing the show's premiere date this week, we have been listening closely to the commentary, criticism and concern coming from both viewers and members of the creative community. In response, and out of respect to all voices in the conversation, we are removing the show from our schedule as we garner further insight into the creative journey of the show. We are grateful to Silvergate Media for all of their work. And we hold Matthew A. Cherry and the wonderful and inspiring 'Hair Love' in the highest regard."
While Cheatham says it's not the way she wanted things to go, she's staying positive.
"I just thought, I understand why the show has to be put on hold, but I just want to tell everyone that no matter what, I'm so grateful and so blessed to even have this opportunity, to inspire and make so many people happy," she says.
And while "Made By Maddie" is on hold, Cheatham still has something to smile about. In another series, "Santiago of the Seas," set to premiere Oct. 9, she voices a Black singing mermaid.