Former Nickelodeon star Jennette McCurdy grabbed news headlines with her controversial debut memoir, with an incredibly attention-grabbing title, I’m Glad My Mom Died.
In the book, published in 2022, Jennette detailed her experiences as a child star while enduring a troubled relationship with her mother, Debra, who died in 2013.
“My whole childhood and adolescence were very exploited,” the iCarly star told the New York Times. “It still gives my nervous system a reaction to say it.”
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Despite backlash from some of their family members, the Nickelodeon alum dedicated her book to her brothers, Dustin, Scott, and Marcus, who endured as much abuse as she did growing up.
Dustin McCurdy, Jennette’s brother, was understanding and supportive of her sister’s bravery. For fans of the Nickelodeon darling, here’s everything you should know about Dustin.
He Is Jennette’s Older Brother
Dustin McCurdy’s exact birthday is unknown. However, his sister, Jennette revealed that Dustin is five years older, making his birth year 1987. The iCarly star was born on June 26, 1992.
Like his siblings, Dustin grew up in a strictly religious Mormon family. They lived in Garden Grove, Southern California, and had been frequent churchgoers, owing to their parents’ influence.
In her memoir, Jennette wrote how going to church was “a beautiful, peaceful, three-hour weekly reprieve” from their abusive home.
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Dustin and his family were poor. Adding to that was his mother’s hoarding, which led to a very cluttered living situation, forcing the siblings to sleep on a mat in their living room.
The siblings, including Dustin, were homeschooled by their mother, Debra. Their father, Mark, worked long hours to support his family of six.
As a kid, Dustin loved drawing and excelled in geography and history, Jennette revealed in her book.
He Didn’t Get Along Well With Jennette Growing Up
Dustin’s mother, Debra, dreamed of becoming an actor, a desire she would project to her youngest daughter, Jennette, despite the latter’s disinterest in acting.
After a few years, Jennette became one of Nickelodeon’s most recognizable faces. She was the family’s breadwinner, but her relationship with her siblings was straining, especially with Dustin.
As Jennette’s career took off, Debra’s attention pivoted toward her, isolating her from the rest of the family. Attempting to manipulate the iCarly alum, Debra resorted to inciting misunderstandings between her children.
“You’re an ugly monster now. I told your brothers about you and they all said they disown you, just like I do. We want nothing to do with you,” Dustin’s mother wrote to Jenette in an email.
Dustin, however, wasn’t aware of the amount of abuse Jennette was enduring, proving the extent of their mother’s toxic manipulations.
“Back then, it seemed like Jennette often tried to get us in trouble and kiss up to Mom,” Dustin said to The Washington Post. “She just wanted to stay safe in whatever way she could.”
It was only after reading Jennette’s memoir did Dustin fit the pieces together and really understood what the iCarly star was going through.
Dustin also recounted how their late mother was mentally abusive toward him and his father, Mark. He added that he was relieved Debra was obsessed with Jennette, as it led her attention away from them.
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“This is going to sound really selfish,” the now 38-year-old embarrassingly explained. “[But] having [Jennette] be the breadwinner…it kind of got our mom away from us.”
He Grew Up Without His Biological Father
Debra McCurdy died on September 20, 2013, from breast cancer. After one year of her death, the father that Dustin and his siblings grew up with dropped a mind-boggling confession.
Mark, who raised the McCurdy siblings, revealed that only one of them was his biological child, Marcus. The sudden reveal led to a wider rift in Dustin and Jennette’s family.
Jennette, who described Mark as “disengaged and disconnected,” was shocked by the news. But she finally understood why he was actively absent while they were growing up, the actor told Drew Barrymore.
Dustin, Scott, and Jennette soon find out about their biological father, Andrew, a trombone player who had a seven-year-long affair with their mother. The siblings’ relationship with Mark eventually fizzled out.
Jennette expressed her desire to build a relationship with their biological dad. However, it’s unclear whether Dustin and Andrew reconnected.
He Supports Jennette’s Book
When asked about her brothers’ take, the actor told The Hollywood Reporter that her siblings were “understanding and supportive.”
“It was also a title that I knew I wanted early on. I wanted something that was bold and also something that I meant sincerely,” the Nickelodeon star clarified.
Final Thoughts
Growing up with an abusive parent is a difficult spot to be in. Dustin, Jennette, and their siblings suffered years of manipulation, leaving scars on their relationships.
I can only hope that Jennette’s memoir, while controversial, becomes a spark of their much-needed healing. That’s everything about Dustin McCurdy!
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