Melissa Joan Hart posed half-naked for Maxim cover in her 20s
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Melissa Joan Hart was seen as America’s sweetheart in the '90s, as she rose to fame with her roles in "Clarissa Explains It All" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch."
However, after the former teen idol agreed to pose half-naked for a racy photo shoot, Hart said she was almost fired from her acting gigs.
The now 47-year-old claimed she was accused of breaching her contract after she agreed to pose in only her underwear for a risqué magazine cover. On an episode of "Pod Meets World," hosted by cast members of "Boy Meets World," she said that, at the time, it was the "worst day of my life."
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Melissa Joan Hart said her lawyers accused her of breaching her contract after she posed half naked for Maxim magazine. (Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
On the podcast, Hart first explained why she looked like she was crying in a photo during a red carpet appearance with Britney Spears in the '90s.
Melissa Joan Hart And Britney Spears at the premiere of her movie "Drive Me Crazy." (Getty Images)
"If you look at my eyes, I'd been crying all evening," Hart began.
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"I was put in a limo, and I was taken away… I had just broken up with my boyfriend while we were in the movie… I'm crying and I'm upset," she explained.
Hart was getting ready to go to an after-party for the premiere of her movie "Drive Me Crazy," until she got a call with news that she’d been dropped from "Scary Movie."
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"While I'm at the party, my lawyer shows up and goes, 'You did a photo shoot for Maxim magazine?'" Hart explained. "I'm like, 'Yes, I did.' They're like, 'Well, you're being sued and fired from your show, so don't talk to the press, don't do anything.'"
Melissa Joan Hart rose to fame with roles in "Clarissa Explains It All" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Hart said her mother, outraged, called and asked, "What did you do?"
"I was like, 'I don't know, whatever my publicist told me to do at the photo shoot.' I did a photo shoot for Maxim! It's Maxim, of course you're going to be in your underwear."
On the Maxim cover, along with a half-naked Hart was the headline that read, "Sabrina, your favorite witch without a stitch."
Melissa Joan Hart claims she almost got "sued and fired" after posing in her underwear for Maxim in the '90s. (Getty Images)
The "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" star at the time was accused of violating her contract, which stated that she "would never play the character naked."
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She further explained that she had to write an apology letter and was forgiven by the Archie Comics company after she was almost fired.
Melissa Joan Hart shares three sons with husband Mark Wilkerson: Tucker McFadden, Braydon Hart and Mason Walter. (Getty Images)
Hart starred in seven seasons of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" from 1996 to 2003. She famously portrayed Sabrina on the ABC sitcom based on the Archie Comics character.
The "Holiday in Handcuffs" star shares three sons with husband Mark Wilkerson: Tucker McFadden, Braydon Hart and Mason Walter.
Stephanie Giang-Paunon is an Entertainment Writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to
