Disney Star Dylan Sprouse Slams Industry Treatment of Child Actors

Dylan Sprouse, the former Disney Channel star, has spoken candidly about his experiences growing up in the entertainment industry. In a recent episode of his podcast 'Wildmen', he compared working on television as a child to 'child labor'.

Sprouse explained that being on set was akin to having a full-time job, with strict hours and a sense of routine. He noted that this can be particularly damaging for young performers, as their self-worth becomes tied to their work.

'I've described this to people a lot before,' Sprouse said, 'when you're working on television, it's a day job... You go in, you clock in, you clock out, you have a cubicle, you work, obviously, you're on a stage, and it's different, but it's the same hours. You work it like that.'

Sprouse acknowledged that having his twin brother Cole by his side made navigating the industry easier. The brothers shared roles in projects such as 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody' before going on to pursue separate acting careers.