Embattled kids TV producer Dan Schneider has denied toxic workplace claims, which include “sexualizing” child actors, on Nickelodeon series he created and ran.
“Everything that happened on the shows Dan ran was carefully scrutinized by dozens of involved adults, and approved by the network,” a spokesperson for the prolific kids TV producer of hits like The Amanda Show and All That said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “Had there been any scenes or outfits that were inappropriate in any way, they would have been flagged and blocked by this multilayered scrutiny.”
The spokesperson for Schneider said the kids TV producer’s scripts secured network approvals in both New York City and Los Angeles.
“Remember, all stories, dialogue, costumes, and makeup were fully approved by network executives on two coasts. A standards and practices group read and ultimately approved every script, and programming executives reviewed and approved all episodes,” continued the statement. “In addition, every day on every set, there were always parents and caregivers and their friends watching filming and rehearsals.”
Schneider’s Monday statement comes after the first two episodes of Investigation Discovery’s docuseries Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV premiered on Sunday night. The four-parter, which will see its final two episodes launch Monday night, tackles allegations of abuse, sexism, racism and inappropriate behavior involving underage stars and crewmembers on Nickelodeon series overseen by Schneider.
Former Drake & Josh star Drake Bell and other former child actors come forward with allegations in the docuseries, with Bell sharing his story of alleged abuse at the hands of Brian Peck, his former dialogue coach, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a Nickelodeon child actor in 2004. Other allegations from the first night leveled at Schneider include that he allegedly tolerated toxic workplace conditions, and that he allegedly tormented and humiliated the cast and crew on his TV sets.
Schneider created Nickelodeon hit programs like The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, iCarly, Victorious and Sam & Cat, and helped launch the careers of Kenan Thompson, Amanda Bynes, Victoria Justice, Miranda Cosgrove, Jennette McCurdy and others.
In a separate statement, former Nickelodeon president of content Russell Hicks claimed Schneider always looked to protect child actors on his set, even when some parents allegedly did not do so. “Dan cared about the kids on his shows even when sometimes their own families unfortunately did not,” Hicks said in a separate statement to THR.
He added that Schneider never acted on his own, and had constant oversight from the network. “What people seem to be forgetting is the fact that the network has a talent management department that is keeping tabs on everything that is happening and going to every event these kids go to,” Hicks insisted.
And the former Nickelodeon executive responded to allegations that scripts Schneider wrote and required approval for sexualized child actors for comedy.
“There is a standards and practices group that reads every script and programming executives looking at every episode. Add to that every day on every set, were the parents and caregivers and their friends watching every single frame of footage and listening to every joke. Every single thing that Dan ever did on any of his shows was carefully scrutinized and approved by executives at Nickelodeon,” Hicks added in his statement.
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