Dan Schneider filed a defamation lawsuit on Wednesday against the producers of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” a docuseries on the alleged toxic working conditions for child actors during Nickelodeon’s golden age.
In the lawsuit, Schneider’s attorneys, Jana Moser and Richard McKie, criticized the documentary for negatively impacting the producer’s reputation and legacy. They also critiqued the documentary’s trailer for mischaracterizing Schneider and his behavior on set.
“‘Quiet on Set’s’ portrayal of Schneider is a hit job,” the lawsuit reads in part. “Defendants have destroyed Schneider’s reputation and legacy through the false statements and implications that Schneider is exactly that.”
“Schneider will be the first to admit that some of what they said is true,” the lawsuit reads. “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.”
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“Quiet on Set,” which aired in March, included a number of interviews with former writers, crew members and actors who worked on the toxic and hostile set environments for Nickelodeon television shows from the mid-1990s and early aughts. It had more than 16 million viewers within about two weeks, becoming one of the most-watched shows ever on the Max app. The docuseries shared details about former acting and dialogue coach Brian Peck, who was sentenced to 16 months in prison and had to register as a sex offender in 2004.
The docuseries also mentioned Schneider, a former producer who was the creative force behind such shows as “iCarly,” “The Amanda Show” and “All That.” His shows and scripts helped launch the careers of child stars Amanda Bynes, Drake Bell and Ariana Grande. Schneider was accused in the documentary of mistreating women and children on those sets.
Schneider did not appear in the original four-part series in March or the fifth episode, which aired in early April. Two days after the original four episodes aired, he denied the allegations against him in a 20-minute video, saying that he owed people on set an apology.
On Wednesday, he offered a similar apology, saying in a statement: “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.”
“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 said. “I owe it to myself, my family, and the many wonderful people involved in making these shows to set the record straight.”
Sony, Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon did not respond to requests for comment.
