Dan Schneider sues producers of ‘Quiet on Set’ for defamation: ‘Hit Job’

Dan Schneider has filed a defamation lawsuit against the producers of the Investigation Discovery docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” which exposed alleged abuse and misconduct at Nickelodeon and became Max’s biggest streaming title ever.

The lawsuit, obtained by Variety and filed by Schneider’s attorneys Jana Moser and Richard McKie, reads in part: “’Quiet on Set’s’ portrayal of Schneider is a hit. While it is indisputable that two bona fide child sexual abusers participated in Nickelodeon shows, it is equally indisputable that Schneider had no knowledge of their abuse, was not complicit in the abuse, condemned the abuse as soon as it was discovered and, crucially, was not a was a crime. child molester himself. But for the sake of clickbait, reviews and opinions – or put another way, money – Defendants have destroyed Schneider’s reputation and legacy through the false statements and implications that Schneider is just that.

“Quiet on Set” chronicles Schneider’s rise as a creator and producer of Nickelodeon shows including “The Amanda Show,” “Drake & Josh,” “Zoey 101,” “iCarly,” “Victorious” and more. Former Nickelodeon writers, child stars and crew members appear in the five-episode series and accuse Schneider of creating a hostile work environment and sexualizing former child actors on television. (A Schneider representative said in a statement to Variety at the time: “Everything that happened on the shows Dan performed was carefully investigated by dozens of adults involved and approved by the network. If there were an actual problem with the scenes where some people, now years later, “sexualize” them they would be removed, but that is not the case. They are still broadcast continuously around the world today, enjoyed by children and parents alike. “)

Schneider himself said in a video posted after the launch of ‘Quiet on Set’: ‘It was very difficult to watch the last two nights. Confronting my past behavior, some of which is shameful and regrettable. I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.

Schneider’s lawsuit alleges that the voiceovers and graphics in “Quiet on Set,” as well as the series’ trailer, are “purposefully and intentionally defamatory in that they falsely and repeatedly state or imply that Schneider is a child sexual abuser and committed crimes in this case. regard – and have been interpreted as such by countless average, ordinary or reasonable viewers.”

In a separate statement sent to Variety alongside the legal complaint, Schneider wrote: “Recently, the docuseries ‘Quiet on Set’ highlighted the mistakes I made and poor judgment I exhibited during my time at Nickelodeon, most of which occurred decades ago during my early career as a producer, working on shows for Tollin/Robbins productions. There is no doubt that I was a poor leader at times. I sincerely apologize and regret this behavior, and I will continue to take responsibility for it. However, after seeing ‘Quiet on Set’ and the trailer, and the reactions to it, I unfortunately have no choice but to take legal action against the people behind it. In their successful effort to mislead viewers and boost ratings, they went beyond reporting the truth and falsely implied that I was involved in or facilitated heinous 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 lead 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.”

Variety has contacted ID for comment.

In addition to Dan Schneider, “Quiet on Set” also explores other people who worked at Nickelodeon at the time, including dialogue and acting coach Brian Peck. Interviewed on “Quiet on Set” is “Drake & Josh” star Drake Bell, who claims he was a victim of Peck’s sexual abuse. In 2003, Peck, then 43, was arrested on 11 charges – including sodomy, obscene acts against a child 14 or 15 years old by a person 10 years older, and oral copulation by an anesthetic or controlled substance – but the victim was not previously named.

“Quiet on Set” also stars Jason Michael Handy, a production assistant who was arrested and charged with a lewd act with a child under 14. The mother of a former child actor who appeared on ‘The Amanda Show’ claimed on ‘Quiet on Set’ ‘that Handy sent her daughter a photo of him masturbating naked. Another Nickelodeon employee, animator Ezel Channel, was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for committing lewd acts against a 14-year-old boy and showing pornography.