The father of former Nickelodeon star Kiana Underwood raised a poignant question on social media after her untimely death: was she treated with the same compassion as one might show to someone injured in an accident? This follows the heartbreaking news of her passing yesterday.
Anthony Underwood shared a post on Facebook early this morning, expressing a wish that his daughter received the respect and compassion similar to that he felt for a fox he had accidentally hit while traveling in the Catskills.
He recounted, “Tia Invme Taylor and I were in the Catskill Mountains when we spotted this fox on the road. We were aware we had struck it.” He reflected on a moment of fear as he briefly considered moving his car to the center of the road to avoid further accidents, only to see another vehicle approach without slowing down, resulting in the death of the fox.
“I often think about that fear… All I can ponder is whether someone showed Kiana the same kindness that would be extended if my child had been hit. Did anyone try to comfort her in her final moments, or were they just standing there looking at their phone?” he wondered, evoking support from family and friends who resonated with his sentiments.
This tragic event marks the end of Underwood’s life, who was 33 years old and had featured on the final season of “All That” back in 2005. The accident occurred at the intersection of Watkins Street and Pitkin Avenue in Brownsville around 6:50 a.m., as reported yesterday.
In addition to the grief of her family, it’s worth mentioning that several years earlier, one of her former co-stars had raised concerns about Underwood’s situation. In a recent video resurfacing from November 2023, Bates made an emotional plea for assistance on behalf of Underwood, criticizing Nickelodeon executives for their lack of action to support her.
Bates alleged that Underwood was facing homelessness and difficulty in New York, expressing confusion about why no one had stepped up to help her.
In her passionate address, Bates lamented, “Kiana is one of us; she needs help, but it seems she’s being overlooked… No one is addressing her situation, though interviews are happening about others getting assistance.” Although Bates refrained from calling anyone out directly, her frustration was evident regarding the industry’s neglect of those in dire need.
“I just can’t wrap my head around why this is being ignored. It seems selective when some past cast members are so eager to help. But Kiana was like one of our own,” she advocated.
Underwood starred in seven episodes of the final season of “All That” and had a varied television and film career from 1999 to 2005.
