Dan Schneider, the embattled producer, is pushing back against Investigation Discovery’s limited series “Quiet on Set,” which promised to uncover the toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most beloved kids’ television shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Schneider filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing Warner Bros, Maxine Productions, Sony Pictures, and producers Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz of defamation.
After the series aired, Schneider publicly apologized for his past behavior as depicted in “Quiet On Set” and pledged to hold himself accountable for his actions on his Nickelodeon shows. In a 19-minute interview posted on YouTube, he expressed remorse, stating, “watching over the past few nights was very difficult. Me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and I regret. I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”
Now, Schneider is seeking accountability from the series itself. In the lawsuit, he labeled the series a “hit job” that destroyed his “legacy and reputation.” While the series did reveal the presence of two child sexual abusers—dialogue coach Brian Peck and former production assistant Jason Handy—on his shows, Schneider claims he had no knowledge of their abuse and was not complicit in it.
The lawsuit acknowledges that Schneider was at times unaware of the pain his behavior caused colleagues, subordinates, and cast members. However, it denies any involvement in or facilitation of child sexual abuse, stating, “one thing he is not… is a child sexual abuser.”
In a statement released after filing the lawsuit, Schneider acknowledged his past mistakes and expressed regret, stating, “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.”
However, he felt compelled to take legal action against the creators of “Quiet on Set” for what he believes is a misleading portrayal of his involvement in heinous acts. Schneider asserts that while his failures as a boss can be highlighted, it is wrong to mislead viewers into believing he was involved in crimes similar to those committed by actual child predators.
The producers of “Quiet on Set” discussed scenes from Schneider’s series that featured children and young teens in potentially sexual situations. They questioned the adults’ decisions on set and highlighted instances where Schneider allegedly tried to sexualize children’s programming.
Schneider’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, aiming to set the record straight about his past behavior and involvement in the television industry.