Former Nickelodeon producer and writer Dan Schneider filed a defamation lawsuit against the makers of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” on Wednesday, alleging that the explosive docuseries was “a hit job” that implies he “sexually abused the children who worked on his television shows.”
Schneider, a former teen actor, joined Nickelodeon in 1993 as a writer for the network’s sketch comedy show “All That,” and quickly established himself as a talented showrunner. In the following years, he oversaw hit productions including “The Amanda Show” and “Keenan & Kel” in the late 1990s and “Drake & Josh,” “iCarly,” “Zoey 101,” “Victorious,” and “Sam & Cat” in the 2000s. During the height of the MeToo Movement in 2018, sexual misconduct and gender discrimination allegations against Schneider led Nickelodeon to part ways with him.
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“Quiet on Set,” a four-part documentary series produced by Investigation Discovery that went viral in March, featured interviews with former Nickelodeon crew members and child stars who had worked closely with Schnieder throughout his career, leading to allegations that the producer had created a toxic work environment and engaged in inappropriate behavior. The series also highlights the abuses committed by no fewer than three convicted pedophiles who worked at Nickelodeon alongside Schneider, including acting coach Brian Peck, who molested 15-year-old Drake Bell.
According to the lawsuit filed by Schneider’s attorneys against Warner Bros. Discovery and the other groups behind the series, “Quiet on Set” is an inaccurate portrayal of the producer’s conduct that raises to the level of defamation. Schneider claims that he had no knowledge of the wrongdoings committed by other Nickelodeon employees and that he condemned the behavior openly as soon as he learned about it.
“And, critically, [Schneider] was not a child sexual abuser himself,” the complaint states. “But for the sake of clickbait, ratings, and views—or put differently, money—Defendants have destroyed Schneider’s reputation and legacy through the false statements and implications that Schneider is exactly that.”
Related: Nickelodeon Producer Dan Schneider on Sexual Harassment Allegations: “I Apologize”
“I have no objection to anyone highlighting my failures as a boss, but it is wrong to mislead millions of people to the false conclusion that I was in any way involved in heinous acts like those committed by child predators,” Schneider wrote. “I owe it to myself, my family, and the many wonderful people involved in making these shows to set the record straight.”
The lawsuit, which was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, names Warner Bros., Maxine Productions, Sony Pictures Television, and the series’ directors, Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz as defendants.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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