Tylor Chase, who played the soft-spoken and thoughtful Martin Qwerly on Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, has become the subject of widespread concern after a TikTok video surfaced showing him sleeping on the streets of Riverside.
The clip, which began circulating in September, quickly went viral and prompted complicated conversations online about the long-term impact of child stardom, particularly when it intersects with mental illness and addiction.
Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide aired from 2004 to 2007 and followed three friends navigating middle school. Chase starred alongside Devon Werkheiser and Daniel Curtis Lee, becoming a familiar face to a generation of Nickelodeon viewers. Fans remember Martin Qwerly as quiet but perceptive — a character who often delivered insight without saying much at all.
Seeing Chase visibly upset in the viral footage has been difficult for many longtime fans, who have taken to social media to express sadness, shock, and concern.
In the wake of the video, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help provide Chase with food, clothing, and other necessities, raising more than $1,200. However, the fundraiser was later halted by Chase’s mother, who explained that her son has bipolar disorder and ongoing financial struggles.
Former colleagues echoed similar concerns. Daniel Curtis Lee, who worked with Chase on Ned’s Declassified, reportedly visited him in Riverside and spoke publicly about the seriousness of his situation, citing struggles with addiction and mental illness. Lee urged fans not to look for quick fixes, emphasizing that Chase needs sustained support and stable housing.
Despite the surge of attention and online discussion, some locals have claimed that Chase was still living on the streets toward the end of 2025. While heartbreaking for fans, many remain hopeful that the visibility of his situation could eventually lead to meaningful help.
The video itself also sparked debate about whether filming Chase was appropriate in the first place.
“You knew who he was. This breaks my heart… God, please watch over him and keep him safe,” one user wrote.
Another commenter criticized the decision to record him, saying, “There’s no need to have a camera in his face, asking him dumb questions. You knew who he was.”
Others echoed that concern. “Why record him in such a manner? He looked uncomfortable. This could have all been happening off-camera,” another user commented.
Some reactions turned their frustration toward the entertainment industry more broadly. “Nah, this hurts,” one person wrote. “Nickelodeon used these kids and threw them out when they were done… how did he end up on the side of the road?”
Another added, “People say child actors always end up like this, but it would be nice if it weren’t so common.”