Former television producer Dan Schneider broke his silence on new claims that he fostered a toxic and dangerous work environment when he oversaw hit Nickelodeon shows, including “The Amanda Show” and “iCarly,” in the late 1990s and early 1990s. the 2000s.
A day after Investigation Discovery premiered its shocking documentary “Quiet on Set,” a spokesperson for Schneider seemingly downplayed the allegations, writing: “In the challenges of production, Dan could get frustrated at times and understands why some employees would. They found it intimidating and stressful.”
The statement outlined Schneider's decades-long career in television. The statement also noted that the producer acknowledged that some people did not have a positive experience and is “truly sorry for that.”
“Dan knows he should have done better and feels terrible for anyone who saw him at his worst, instead of his best,” the statement said.
Schneider and his television empire face scrutiny in “Quiet on Set,” a documentary series that seeks to shed light on allegations of sexual abuse and discrimination that young stars and staff allegedly experienced during the producer's reign at Nickelodeon. In the documentary, several former child actors (including Drake Bell), parents and crew members offer their accounts of Schneider's alleged abuse of power.
Schneider also produced numerous Nickelodeon hits, including “Drake & Josh,” “Victorious,” “Zoey 101” and “All That.”
Over the years, former Nickelodeon stars have spoken out against the alleged abuse they suffered at the hands of Schneider and other Nickelodeon bosses. Jennette McCurdy alleged in her 2022 memoir that the network offered her a paycheck to keep quiet about disturbing experiences from when she starred on “iCarly.” “Zoey 101” actress Alexa Nikolas led a protest in 2022 outside the Nickelodeon studio in Burbank, claiming that she and her fellow actors “were not safe.”
In “Quiet on Set,” Bell detailed the alleged sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of speech coach Brian Peck, who worked on shows created by Schneider, including “All That” and “The Amanda Show.” Peck was convicted in 2004 of child sexual abuse.
The statement from Schneider's representative stressed that material from the creator's shows – including stories, dialogue and costumes – was “fully approved by network executives on two coasts” and that a standards and practices group reviewed “every script.” .
“In addition, every day, on every set, there were always parents, caregivers and friends watching the filming and rehearsals,” the letter adds. “If there had been scenes or outfits that were inappropriate in any way, they would have been flagged and blocked by this multi-level scrutiny.”
Former Nickelodeon boss Russell Hicks also expressed his support for Schneider amid the “Quiet on Set” revelations. Hicks left Nickelodeon in 2016 after 18 years with the company. During his tenure, he oversaw the network's live-action and animation development and production for its various platforms, including Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nick Jr.
Hicks, in a statement shared with The Times, said Schneider “cared about the children in his programs even when sometimes their own families unfortunately did not.” She also highlighted executive oversight of programming and the presence of talent's parents and caregivers on set.
“Everything Dan did on any of his shows was carefully vetted and approved by Nickelodeon executives,” Hicks added.
The second part of “Quiet on Set” will air at 9 pm on ID.
