Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider responds to “Quiet on Set” accusations

Ex-Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider is talking out after accusations of inappropriate and abusive conduct have been made in opposition to him within the new docuseries, “Quiet on Set: The Darkish Aspect of Children TV.” 

Schneider, who was behind well-liked youngsters’s exhibits similar to “The Amanda Present,” “Victorious” and “Drake and Josh,” responded to a number of the allegations in an interview on his YouTube web page with “iCarly” actor BooG!e. He mentioned it was “very tough” to look at all 4 episodes of the Investigation Discovery particular, which aired Sunday and Monday evening.

“Going through my previous behaviors, a few of that are embarrassing and that I remorse,” he mentioned. “I positively owe some individuals a reasonably sturdy apology.”

Even earlier than the discharge of “Quiet on Set,” Schneider had confronted criticism for together with sexually suggestive jokes in his exhibits meant for kids. Schneider mentioned he is in favor of reducing these jokes from his exhibits if viewers discover them upsetting. 

“Each a type of jokes was written for a child viewers as a result of youngsters thought they have been humorous — and solely humorous,” he mentioned. “Now, we now have some adults trying again at them 20 years later via their lens and so they’re them and so they’re saying, ‘I do not suppose that is inappropriate for a youngsters’ present.’ And I’ve no drawback with that… Let’s minimize these jokes out of the present.” 

Schneider additionally refuted the concept he had full management over the content material that finally made it on his exhibits, saying “there have been many, many ranges of scrutiny,” mentioning executives from the corporate, crewmembers, dad and mom and different adults on set may have raised objections. The documentary, nevertheless, portrayed Schneider as vindictive, unstable and onerous to sway. 

One other accusation made in opposition to Schneider in “Quiet on Set” was that he mistreated two feminine writers by having them break up a single employees author’s wage. Schneider mentioned he personally had “nothing to do” with paying writers or figuring out their salaries, but additionally famous it was “widespread observe” for first-time writers to separate salaries. Schneider additionally admitted it was mistaken for him to ask for massages on set — one other allegation made throughout the docuseries. 

“I apologize to anybody I ever put in that scenario,” he mentioned.

Schneider additionally mentioned he was not accountable for hiring Brian Peck, a dialogue coach who in 2004 was sentenced to 16 months in jail after pleading no contest to 2 counts of kid intercourse abuse. The sufferer’s identify was sealed on the time, however in “Quiet on Set,” actor Drake Bell revealed he was the one who had been sexually assaulted by Peck whereas engaged on “The Amanda Present.”

Schneider mentioned that when Bell instructed him in regards to the assault, he was “extra devastated by that than something that ever occurred to me in my profession, so far.”

Former “Zoey 101” actor Alexa Nikolas, who has been a vocal critic of Schneider’s, slammed the previous producer’s feedback on Tuesday and mentioned she would have most popular a non-public apology, as an alternative of a public assertion. 

“I do not even really feel any regret from him,” she mentioned in a YouTube reside stream after Schneider’s interview. “He isn’t even crying. I do know everybody offers with their very own feelings in their very own means, however I do not really feel something from you, Dan. I do not really feel a factor.” 

In response to alleged behaviors on previous manufacturing units, a Nickelodeon spokesperson instructed CBS Information in an announcement that it may well’t “corroborate or negate allegations from productions many years in the past.”

“Nickelodeon as a matter of coverage investigates all formal complaints as a part of our dedication to fostering a secure {and professional} office atmosphere freed from harassment or different kinds of inappropriate conduct,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Our highest priorities are the well-being and finest pursuits not simply of our staff, casts and crew, however of all youngsters, and we now have adopted quite a few safeguards through the years to assist guarantee we live as much as our personal excessive requirements and the expectations of our viewers.”

Each Nickelodeon and CBS Information are owned by Paramount World.