Dan Schneider Fights Back Against Defamation Allegations From “Quiet On Set” Documentary Producers
Dan Schneider, the former Nickelodeon producer behind hit shows like Drake & Josh and iCarly, is taking a stand against the producers of the Investigation Discovery series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
Dan filed a defamation lawsuit against the documentary series producers, including Warner Bros. Discovery, Maxine Productions, and Sony Pictures Television. According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, he alleges that the producers falsely implicated him in the sexual abuse of Nickelodeon’s child actors.
The lawsuit asserts that the documentary created a misleading portrayal of Dan through manipulative editing and imagery. Additionally, the producer denies any association with convicted child sex offenders Brian Peck and Jason Handy, emphasizing that he had no knowledge or involvement in their crimes.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Dan acknowledged past mistakes in judgment but expressed regret for the documentary’s portrayal of him. He highlighted the importance of accountability for his past actions but condemned the false implications made by Quiet on Set.
In his words, “Recently, the docuseries Quiet on Set highlighted mistakes I made and poor judgment I exhibited during my time at Nickelodeon, most of which happened decades ago during my early career as a producer, working on shows for Tollin/Robbins Production. 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.”
“However, 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,” he added.
The renowned TV executive, known for creating beloved children’s shows, including The Amanda Show and Victorious, emphasized that while he accepts criticism for his past leadership failures, it is unjust to equate him with individuals guilty of heinous crimes. He asserted his commitment to setting the record straight for the sake of his reputation, family, and colleagues.
Following the release of the documentary’s initial episodes, Schneider responded with an on-camera video addressing the allegations raised by Quiet on Set.
“All these jokes that you’re speaking of that the the show covered over the past two nights — every one of those jokes was written for a kid audience because kids thought they were funny,” he explained, adding, “Now we have some adults looking back at them 20 years later through their lens, and they’re looking at them and they’re saying ‘You know, I don’t think that’s appropriate for a kids show.’ I have no problem with that. If that’s how anyone feels, let’s cut those jokes out of the show, just like I would have done 20 years ago.”
