Avan Jogia Reveals Why He Was Almost Fired From Victorious

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Avan Jogia had a reason to freak the freak out in the early days of Victorious. 

The actor, 34, shared that he nearly didn’t get the part of Oliver Beck on the Nickelodeon show during its first season. He explained that it took some getting used to the show’s style and tone.

Avan explained on the February 16th episode of The Zach Sang Show that he was criticized early in his career simply for not performing well. He described it as a throwback to old Hollywood, where actors were bluntly told to learn their lines. Having a background in dramatic acting, he struggled to adapt to the timing and pace of multi-camera sitcoms.

Avan struggled to find the humor in the show, which also featured Ariana Grande, Victoria Justice, Leon Thomas, and Elizabeth Gillies.

He said he was focused on the musicality of what he was doing, working hard on the details. But others told him he needed to be more energetic and entertaining.

He added, “Louder and funnier is the note.”

Despite early challenges, Avan ultimately proved his resilience, remaining a central figure throughout the show’s four seasons and gaining valuable experience in the entertainment industry.

He explained that he learned important lessons from being on the show about understanding the context of any situation. He’s applied this by always being aware of ‘the bigger picture’ and the environment he’s in.

Another part of Victorious that Avan carried with him in life: The love of his castmates.

He told Zach it was a really enjoyable experience, comparing it to college. He explained that, like college friends, you don’t always see everyone, but you still care about them deeply and remember that time fondly. He described it as a period of growth and excitement where you genuinely celebrate the achievements of others.

Okay, seriously, watching my friends succeed has been amazing, and honestly, seeing Leon win those Grammys from basically the best seat in the house? That was everything! It’s just been incredible being part of the Victorious group and witnessing all their triumphs firsthand.

Oh my gosh, Leon is just… everything right now! I’m seriously bursting with pride, it’s so incredibly heartwarming to watch him shine. He’s not just good, he’s a genuine musical genius, honestly! That level of talent is just…wow. It’s so lovely seeing someone pour their heart and soul into their music, and then actually achieve real success. It’s honestly the most amazing thing ever, it just makes my day!

Beck played a role in connecting Avan with his fiancée, Halsey. The two have been engaged since 2024, and Halsey has shared that she was attracted to him even before they actually met.

She admitted on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in February 2025 that she used to find Beck attractive, then quickly apologized.

Too look at what the cast of Victorious is up to now, keep reading…

Following her role alongside Jamie Lynn Spears in Zoey 101, Justice got her own Nickelodeon show where she showcased her acting and singing talents. She played Tori Vega, a new student at Hollywood Arts High School.

After the show ended, Justice continued his career by releasing several songs as a solo performer and acting in the MTV thriller series Eye Candy, which aired in 2015.

That year, at age 27, she played Naomi in the popular independent film Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List. She also starred as Janet Weiss in Fox’s 2016 musical remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, titled Let’s Do the Time Warp Again.

Justice dated her Naomi and Ely co-star, Pierson Fode, for two years. In 2016, she then began a relationship with Broadway actor Reeve Carney, who was also in Rocky Horror. They dated for three years before amicably separating.

After Victorious ended, Ariana Grande kept playing her popular character Cat on Sam & Cat, a spin-off show that also starred Jeanette McCurdy from iCarly. However, Sam & Cat only lasted one season, and there were rumors of disagreements over pay and issues happening while filming.

Ariana Grande was quickly becoming a successful solo artist. Her first album, Yours Truly, released in 2013, reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She continued this success with My Everything in 2014 and Dangerous Woman in 2016, both of which achieved platinum sales.

Since then, the now 26-year-old singer has become incredibly popular and successful, releasing two more hit albums: Sweetener (2018) and Thank U, Next (2019). Thank U, Next broke streaming records, and the album’s first three songs made her the first artist since The Beatles in 1964 to have three songs simultaneously in the top three positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She received 11 Grammy nominations and won her first Grammy Award in 2019 for Best Pop Vocal Album.

Ariana Grande’s relationships have often been public, and she’s even referenced past boyfriends in her popular song “Thank U, Next.” These include Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson (to whom she was once engaged), and Mac Miller, a rapper who sadly passed away in 2018. More recently, reports have surfaced that Grande is dating real estate agent Dalton Gomez.

Ariana Grande has openly discussed her mental health challenges and the trauma she experienced after the 2017 Manchester bombing. In the wake of this tragic event, which claimed 22 lives, she helped organize and performed at the One Love Manchester benefit concert to support the victims’ families, raising $13 million.

Jogia played Beck, the coolest and most laidback guy in school and Jade’s longtime BF.

After his time on Nickelodeon, Avan Jogia took on leading roles in the ABC Family (now Freeform) drama Twisted, which lasted one season, and as Tutankhamun in Spike TV’s miniseries Tut. More recently, he’s appeared in the TV series Ghost Wars and Now Apocalypse.

Saint Ivory, the band formed by Jogia and his brother Ketan Jogia, put out their album Mixed Feelings in February 2020. Jogia had previously released a poetry book with the same name in September 2019.

Avan Jogia, 28, and Zoey Deutch dated for five years, ending their relationship in 2017. They remain friends and later worked together in the 2019 film Zombieland: Double Tap.

I’ve been a huge fan of Elizabeth Gillies ever since her days on Nickelodeon, but I was so thrilled to see her take on more adult roles! She really impressed me in FX’s Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, and then she absolutely killed it landing the lead as Fallon Carrington in the Dynasty reboot on The CW. She’s been amazing in that role since 2017, and I’ve been hooked ever since!

Even though she played Jade, Tori’s rival, on Victorious, Daniella Gillies remains friends with many of her former castmates. She’s even appeared in two of Ariana Grande’s music videos, famously portraying Lindsay Lohan’s character Cady Heron in the *Mean Girlsinspired scene from “Thank U, Next.”

 

Throughout the show’s run, Thomas portrayed Andre, Tori’s best friend and writing partner, and frequently demonstrated his musical skills by playing multiple instruments.

After Victorious wrapped, I saw Thomas really dive into music production. He teamed up with The Rascals, and they quickly made a name for themselves! He actually co-produced five tracks on Ariana Grande’s 2013 album, and even contributed to her Christmas album too. It was amazing to watch his talents expand beyond acting!

He helped produce Post Malone’s 2016 album, Stoney, and won a Grammy for his work on Toni Braxton and Babyface’s 2014 R&B album, Love, Marriage & Divorce.

The 26-year-old actor has also been in Fear the Walking Dead and Insecure, and had a role in the 2017 film Detroit.

Okay, so, I’ve been following Dani Bennett forever, and it’s amazing to see how close he still is with everyone from Victorious! It was SO perfect when Ariana asked him to be her love interest in the ‘One Last Time’ video back in 2014 – seriously, total couple goals. But then?! Then he was in the ‘Thank U, Next’ video! Recreating the Bring It On toothbrushing scene with her?! I nearly died. It’s just… everything. He’s clearly her go-to guy, and honestly, I live for their on-screen chemistry.

He’s also been on TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Shameless, and The Big Bang Theory, and had a recurring role on Netflix’s American Vandal. Besides acting, the 28-year-old Bennett is a musician, having released an album in 2016 and another recently. Fans of Victorious were thrilled when he and Elizabeth Gillies joined Ariana Grande on stage at a concert in Atlanta.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following Daniella Monet’s career for years! You probably recognize her as Trini Vega from Victorious – she played Tori’s older sister, though Trini wasn’t quite as gifted when it came to the arts. Beyond acting, Daniella was a fantastic host for Nickelodeon! She spent two years leading their AwesomenessTV sketch comedy show, which was super popular, and then later hosted the energetic game show Paradise Run for a couple of seasons. And if you’re a music video fan, you might have spotted her in Ariana Grande’s iconic “Thank U, Next” video!

Monet and Andrew Gardner got engaged in December 2017 after dating for seven years. They later welcomed their son, Gio James, in September 2019.

Throughout the series Victorious, Leon Thomas III played Sinjin Van Cleef, a quirky and somewhat obsessive character who developed crushes on many of the show’s female characters.

Now 27, she’s appeared on the TV show The Blacklist and in the 2016 movie Mamaboy. Currently, she performs stand-up comedy in New York City.

Since finishing his role as Erwin Sikowitz, the quirky acting teacher from the show and its spin-off, Sam & Cat, the 47-year-old actor has been consistently working.

Lange has appeared in many popular TV series, including Lost, Once Upon a Time, and Grey’s Anatomy, before landing a starring role in Netflix’s Narcos. More recently, he had recurring roles on HBO’s Perry Mason, Amazon Prime’s The Man in the High Castle, and Netflix’s Unbelievable. He’ll also be in the upcoming horror film Antebellum, produced by the team behind Get Out.

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2026-02-17 19:18