Dan Schneider filed a defamation lawsuit against the “Quiet on Set” documentary producers and creators for implying he sexually abused Nickelodeon child stars.
According to a complaint obtained by Page Six Wednesday, the former “Zoey 101” producer accused Warner Bros. Discovery, Maxine Productions, Sony Pictures Television and more of making the trailer of the five-part docuseries a “hit job” against him full of “false statements and implications.”
“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 reads.
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“But for the sake of clickbait, ratings, and views — or put differently, money — Defendants have destroyed Schneider’s reputation and legacy through the false statements and implications that Schneider is exactly that.”
Per the lawsuit, in the “first thirty-eight seconds” of the two-minute-and-thirty-second trailer, the defendants “set the stage for their defamatory statements and insinuations of Schneider’s purported child sexual abuse by hammering the connection between Schneider and the child audience and cast members.”
In one part of the trailer, Schneider — who was accused of allegedly fostering a toxic work environment and tormenting and humiliating the cast and crew on his TV sets during his time at Nickelodeon — is working on one of the Nickelodeon shows when this question is posed, “How safe can any kids be in that
environment?”
“The (false) implication is clear: Schneider sexually abused child actors on his shows,” the lawsuit reads.
“Seventy seconds in, Schneider remains not only the main focus of the Trailer, but the sole focus. The ordinary viewer will interpret the voiceover to mean exactly what Defendants intended: Schneider is a pedophile who sexually abused children on his shows.”
In a statement to Page Six, Schneider, who worked for Nickelodeon from 1993 to 2018, said, “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 Productions.
“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.”
The ‘iCarly” producer, 58, added, “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.”
Schneider says he has “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.”
He concluded, “I owe it to myself, my family, and the many wonderful people involved in making these shows to set the record straight.”
After “Quiet on Set” aired in March, Schneider said he owed people a “strong apology” for his “embarrassing” past actions.
Nickelodeon cut ties with Schneider in 2018 amid reports he was “under a cloud of suspicion over the treatment of some younger stars of his shows.” The producer walked away with a $7 million payout.
“Josh and Drake” alum Drake Bell spoke out in the documentary about his 2004 sexual abuse suit against former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck in 2004.
Peck pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 16 months in prison and was mandated to register as a sex offender. After being released, Peck was hired by the Disney Channel to work on “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” but was terminated when the network learned of his conviction.
“Quiet on Set” is available to stream on Max.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
