Dan Schneider, the focus of the docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” is suing the show’s producers for defamation.
Schneider, a kids television producer-screenwriter, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, per the HuffPost.
The docuseries, which aired March 17, exposed the alleged abuse of child actors on many Nickelodeon shows.
“‘Quiet on Set’s’ portrayal of Schneider is a hit job,” the lawsuit said.
Schneider is seeking financial compensation and the ability to remove or edit parts of the series and the trailer.
The 58-year-old producer-screenwriter worked on such Nickelodeon hits as “All That,” “iCarly,” “Victorious,” and “Drake & Josh.”
Although he did not participate in the five-part series, former child actors talked about their experiences on the shows. This included videos of with some of the young female actors on sets and instances where the young actresses looked uncomfortable when he was around.
Those interviewed for “Quiet on Set” said Nickelodeon was a hostile workplace and discriminated against women. They also spoke about Schneider allegedly requiring women to massage him on the set.
Schneider left Nickelodeon in 2018. The company had investigated Schneider for “alleged sexual behavior.” In the end, they found he was verbally abusive to employees, according to Business Insider.
“Schneider will be the first to admit that some of what they said is true,” according to lawsuit. “At times, he was blind to the pain that some of his behaviors caused certain colleagues, subordinates, and cast members. He will regret and atone for this behavior the rest of his life. But one thing he is not — and the one thing that will forever mar his reputation and career both past and present — is a child sexual abuser.”
In ‘Quiet on the Set,’ Drake Bell, who starred in “The Amanda Show” and “Drake & Josh,” said he was sexually abused by his dialogue coach, Brian Peck.
Former child actors also alleged they were forced to engage in scenes that imitate uncomfortable and/or sexual situations under the guise of comedy,” per the outlet.
Schneider said in a statement to HuffPost the series “highlighted mistakes I made and poor judgment I exhibited during my time at Nickelodeon. … There is no doubt that I was sometimes a bad leader. I am sincerely apologetic and regretful for that behavior, and I will continue to take accountability for it.”
His bad judgment should not be viewed on par as the alleged child sexual abuse by others, such as Bell, his lawyers said.
“In their successful attempt to mislead viewers and increase ratings, they went beyond reporting the truth and falsely implied that I was involved in or facilitated horrific crimes for which actual child predators have been prosecuted and convicted,” Schneider said. “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.”
