Former Nickelodeon producer and writer Dan Schneider has taken legal action against the producers of a TV documentary series, claiming that it has severely damaged his reputation.
The five-part docuseries, which premiered in March, alleged instances of abuse and inappropriate conduct on sets, including those of popular shows like iCarly and Drake & Josh.
Schneider has filed a defamation lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court, asserting that “Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV” falsely suggested that he “sexually abused the children who worked on his television shows.”
The defendants named in the lawsuit include Maxine Productions, Sony Pictures Television, and Warner Brothers Discovery.
Nickelodeon, though not involved in the legal action, stated to the Associated Press that while it cannot verify or dismiss allegations from decades ago, it thoroughly investigates all formal complaints and has implemented stringent protocols for working with minors.
The docuseries, originally aired on US streaming platform Max, alleges several instances of Schneider making inappropriate and sexual remarks on set.
Schneider, known for creating successful shows like iCarly and Victorious, apologized in March for his past behavior at Nickelodeon and departed from the network in 2018 following an internal investigation that found him verbally abusive towards staff members.
The court documents highlight that while individuals associated with Nickelodeon shows were later convicted of sexual offenses, Schneider neither condoned nor had knowledge of their actions.
In response to the documentary’s implications, Schneider expressed regret over his past conduct but emphasized that the series falsely portrayed him as being complicit in criminal activities.
He stated that he felt compelled to pursue legal action to address the misleading portrayal and set the record straight.
