Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider is suing producers of the documentary “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” for defamation.
The 58-year-old TV exec made a public apology for his behavior after the documentary first aired. “Quiet on Set” included interviews with Schneider’s former colleagues telling stories of a toxic workplace and what they saw as questionable actions.
“Watching over the past two nights was very difficult — me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret. I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology,” Schneider said in late March, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
The new lawsuit states that while he takes responsibility for his actions, “Quiet on Set” was “a hit job” which insinuated that Schneider “sexually abused the children who worked on his television shows.”
“While it is indisputable that two bona fide child sexual abusers worked on Nickelodeon shows, it is likewise indisputable that Schneider had no knowledge of their abuse, was not complicit in the abuse, condemned the abuse once it was discovered and, critically, was not a child sexual abuser himself,” the lawsuit says, per USA Today.
“Defendants have destroyed Schneider’s reputation and legacy through the false statements and implications that Schneider is exactly that,” it states. “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.”
The former Nickelodeon exec also told the outlet, “After seeing ‘Quiet on Set ‘and its Trailer, and the reactions to them, I sadly have no choice but to take legal action against the people behind it.”
“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 continued.
“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. I owe it to myself, my family, and the many wonderful people involved in making these shows to set the record straight.”
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The four-part docuseries caused a stir when it premiered on March 17. Actor Drake Bell went public saying he was the unnamed victim of sexual assault at the hands of convicted pedophile Brian Peck, who was a dialogue coach at the network.
While no formal complaints of sexual abuse were made against Schneider, the documentary highlighted interactions he had with child actors who worked at the network, including airing video of him spending time in a hot tub with then-teenager Amanda Bynes.
The producer was let go from the network in 2018 amid allegations of abuse but was never formally charged with any crimes.
