Dan Schneider, former Nickelodeon producer, sues 'Quiet on Set' documentary makers

Dan Schneider, former Nickelodeon producer and writer, is suing the makers of "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV," alleging the series implied sexual abuse of child actors he frequently worked with.

Schneider filed the suit on May 1 for allegations of defamation and false implications of sexual abuse of child actors against Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures, according to a YouTube video from Law & Crime Network. His lawyers claim false statements and implications destroyed Schneider's reputation and legacy, specifically referring to the docuseries trailer.

'Quiet on Set' Documentary: Where to watch the revealing new docuseries about Nickelodeon

YouTuber Adam McIntyre posted commentary about the lawsuit to his page on May 2, saying such allegations don't come as a surprise to many Gen Z's who watched his shows as children.

"Dan Schneider is fighting back the 'Quiet on Set' documentary and he's saying that his reputation has been so tarnished just by this documentary that he now has no other choice but to sue, and I think that that is such bs because you're aware and I am aware of all of this about Dan Schneider before the 'Quiet on Set' documentary," he said. "I haven't even seen the 'Quiet on Set' documentary because it's not even available in the U.K."

McIntyre, who has older siblings, said his eldest brother refused to watch "Victorious" because he found it "creepy."

"He would have been similar age to what the actors were and he was even picking up on it, so he refused to watch Victorious with me because he found it really creepy. I remember specifically he always used to say that what they did to Ariana Grande was really creepy and then what they did to Victoria Justice was really creepy. What those characters do randomly in an episode for no reason is very much so for the weird fetish of 'The Creator' or one of the producers or something, whether that was Dan Schneider or anybody, but they're all to blame for it."

The YouTuber was referring to Grande being sexualized on episodes of "Victorious" and "Sam & Cat." One video on the platform shows various clips that viewers have found problematic, including the star placing her foot in her mouth and being bathed by co-stars.

The news of the lawsuit, which originally broke to Variety, was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court.

When did 'Quiet on Set' come out?

The first four episodes of "Quiet on Set" aired on March 17-18, 2024, on Investigation Discovery. A fifth episode was released at a later date after Schneider posted a response video to the docuseries on YouTube.

What is 'Quiet on Set?'

"Quiet on Set" is a docuseries that "uncovers the toxic culture behind some of the most iconic children's shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s" with a focus on former producer Schneider, according to IMDB.

Schneider, a former child actor, was a children's television powerhouse for nearly 20 years, producing shows like "All That," "The Amanda Show," "Drake & Josh," "Zoe 101," "iCarly," "Victorious" and others. The docuseries hits on the accusations against Schneider by people who worked with him in the past, following controversies that happened behind the scenes.

Big names featured in the documentary include Drake Bell, who hadn't spoken about his experiences publicly prior. Bell confirms he was a victim of Brian Peck, a registered sex offender who worked for Nickelodeon in the early 2000s and was convicted of child molestation in 2004. Others include Alexa Nikolas from "Zoey 101," Nickelodeon host and producer Marc Summers, Katrina Johnson from "All That," writer Christy Stratton, and Bell from "The Amanda Show" and "Drake & Josh."

In 2018, Schneider and Nickelodeon both announced the end of their contract. The reason for this separation did not come out until a few years later. Paramount Global, the parent company of Nickelodeon, revealed that they investigated Schneider and found that many people who praised his work ethic and attention to detail also viewed him as verbally abusive.

Most of the accusers were people who worked with him during his reign over Nickelodeon television in the 2000s. No accusations of physical abuse have come out against him.

Dan Schneider's YouTube post in response to 'Quiet on Set'

Schneider posted a YouTube video on March 19, addressing allegations mentioned in the docuseries like receiving massages from employees and making co-writers uncomfortable in the writer's room.

"Watching over the past two nights was very difficult, me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret, and I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology," he said.

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'Quiet on Set' Episode 5

Episode 5 of "Quiet on Set," in response to Schneider's YouTube video, aired on April 7 on Investigation Discovery.

'Quiet on Set' Episode 6: Will there be another episode of 'Quiet on Set?'

At the time of publication, there's been no word of a sixth episode of "Quiet on Set."

Where is Dan Schneider now? Lawsuit against 'Quiet on Set' producers

Schneider and Nickelodeon ended their contract in 2018. The docuseries "Quiet on Set" was released in March of 2024, and Schneider followed a lawsuit against the producers on May 1.

'Quiet on Set' Documentary: Where to Watch

"Quiet on Set" is available on various platforms. It's available to stream, with a premium subscription, on The Roku Channel, Apple TV, and Max, formerly HBO Max.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Dan Schneider sues 'Quiet on Set' producers over documentary accusations