Dan Schneider Sues Quiet on Set Producers for Defamation

Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider has filed a defamation lawsuit against the makers of the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which uncovered alleged sexual abuse and misconduct on the network’s children’s shows from the 1990s to the 2000s.

“Quiet on Sets’ portrayal of Schneider is a hit job,” the lawsuit reads in part (via Variety). “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 suit continues by accusing the documentary’s producers of destroying Schneider’s “reputation and legacy through the false statements and implications” for “clickbait, ratings, and views — or put differently, money.”

Debuting in mid-March, Quiet on Set quickly became Max’s biggest streaming title. The five-part series goes behind the scenes of Schneider’s rise as the producer of hit shows like All That, iCarly, Zoey 101, Drake & Josh, and Victorious.

Quiet on the Set features appearances from former Nickelodeon writers, child stars, and crew members, who accuse Schneider of creating a hostile work environment and sexualizing child actors.

In the lawsuit, Schneider’s attorneys claim he was lumped in with two convicted sex offenders through the series’ trailer, voiceovers, and graphics, which are described as “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 regard — and have been interpreted as such by countless average, ordinary or reasonable viewers.”

Through a separate statement, Schneider admitted to making mistakes and exhibiting “poor judgment” during that time. “There is no doubt that I was sometimes a bad leader,” he said. “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.”

He continued, “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. 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.”

Besides the allegations against Schneider, Quiet on the Set revealed Drake Bell as one of the alleged victims of his former dialogue coach, Brian Peck, who was convicted of lewd conduct with a minor in 2004. Production assistant Jason Michael Handy and animator Ezel Channel were also identified as convicted sex offenders.