Jamie Lynn Spears Slams ‘Misconception’ That Her Pregnancy Led to ‘Zoey 101’ Ending

Jamie Lynn Spears slammed the ‘misconception’ that her pregnancy led to the end of ‘Zoey 101.’ The actress addressed the longtime rumor that the Nickelodeon show was canceled after she got pregnant with daughter Maddie at age 16 while appearing on a podcast episode.

Jamie Lynn Spears/Instagram; Everett

NEED TO KNOW

Jamie Lynn Spears clarified that Zoey 101 ended because production wrapped, not because of her teenage pregnancy

Spears said her daughter Maddie often receives false blame for the show’s cancellation on social media

Spears reprised her role as Zoey Brooks in the Paramount+ film Zoey 102 nearly 15 years after the show ended

Jamie Lynn Spears is pushing back against the rumor that Zoey 101 was canceled after she became pregnant at age 16.

The Sweet Magnolias actress, 35, addressed the longtime rumor while appearing on a Tuesday, Aug. 18 episode of the Momarchy podcast, setting the record straight that getting pregnant with her daughter Maddie, now 18, while she was a teenager did not directly lead to the cancellation of the popular Nickelodeon show.

“If we’re talking about a concrete misconception, it would be that everybody thinks Zoey ended because I got pregnant,” said Spears, who shares Maddie with ex Casey Aldridge. “And that is not true.”

Jamie Lynn Spears/Instagram

The now mom-of-two went on to share that production on the fourth season of Zoey 101 had already completed when she found out she was expecting Maddie. But the final season didn’t air until May 2008, which was months after she’d announced her pregnancy.

“That’s how it is in entertainment. A lot of people who aren’t in the business don’t understand,” explained Spears. “They think we shoot it, it comes out. No, you shoot it and it comes out maybe the next year or something.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“That’s where people are confused,” she said. “But we were wrapped, we were always wrapped, and there was never going to be another season.”

Spears added that her daughter Maddie regularly receives comments on her Instagram blaming her for Zoey 101 ending.

“[Her] top comments are always, ‘You’re the reason Zoey’s over!’ ” said Spears. “We laugh about it. You got to laugh at these things, but it’s pretty funny some of the things they say to her. But it’s just not the truth.”

Jamie Lynn Spears/Instagram

Related Stories

In 2023, Spears addressed her Zoey 101 exit on an episode of Hannah Brown‘s Better Tomorrow podcast with SiriusXM.

“That was something I took responsibility for the way that made sense for me,” Spears explained of her choice to focus on her pregnancy.

“That doesn’t make sense for everyone else, but it made sense for me and the whole world came down and told me I was the worst human alive for doing so and that every young girl who ever watched my show was going to be ruined because of me and my personal decision,” she continued.

Spears returned to the halls of Pacific Coast Academy nearly 15 years after the series ended in 2008, reprising her iconic role as Zoey Brooks for the Paramount+ film Zoey 102. The movie saw Zoey attending the wedding of her friends Quinn Pensky (Erin Sanders) and Logan Reese (Matthew Underwood).

In addition to Maddie, Spears is also mom to her 8-year-old daughter Ivey, whom she shares with her husband Jamie Watson.

Celebrity

Celebrity Family

Celebrity Pregnancy