Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider has filed a defamation lawsuit against the creators of the docuseries. Silence on the set: The dark side of children's televisionwhich uncovered alleged sexual abuse and misconduct on the network's children's shows from the 1990s to the 2000s.
“Quiet on sets“Schneider's interpretation is a successful work,” reads part of the lawsuit (via Variety). “While it is indisputable that two bona fide child sexual abusers worked on Nickelodeon shows, it is also indisputable that Schneider had no knowledge of their abuse, was not complicit in the abuse, condemned the abuse once it was discovered, and, critically, “It was not he himself, he is a sexual abuser of children.”
The lawsuit goes on to accuse the documentary's producers of destroying Schneider's “reputation and legacy” through false statements and implications for “clickbait, ratings and views, or put another way, money.”
Debuting in mid-March, Silence on set It quickly became Max's biggest streaming title. The five-part series goes behind the scenes of Schneider's rise as a producer of hit shows like Everything that, icarly, Zoey 101, Drake and Joshand Victorious.
Silence on set features appearances by former Nickelodeon writers, child stars, and crew members, who accuse Schneider of creating a hostile work environment and sexualizing child actors.
In the lawsuit, Schneider's attorneys claim he was lumped in with two convicted sex offenders through the series' trailer, voiceovers and graphics, which are described as “deliberately and intentionally defamatory in the sense that they state or imply falsely and repeatedly that Schneider is a boy. “He was a sexual abuser and committed crimes in this regard, and has been interpreted as such by countless average, common or reasonable viewers.”
Through a separate statement, Schneider admitted to making mistakes and showing “poor judgment” during that time. “There's no doubt I was a bad leader at times,” she said. “I sincerely apologize and regret that behavior, and I will continue to take responsibility for it. However, after seeing Silence on set and its trailer, and the reactions to them, unfortunately I have no choice but to take legal action against the people behind this.”
He continued: “They went beyond reporting the truth and falsely implied that I was involved in or facilitating horrific crimes for which real child predators have been prosecuted and convicted. “I have no objection to anyone highlighting my failures as a boss, but it is wrong to mislead millions of people into the false conclusion that I was somehow involved in heinous acts such as those committed by child predators.”
In addition to the accusations against Schneider, Silence on set revealed Drake Bell as one of the alleged victims of his former speech coach, Brian Peck, who was convicted of lewd conduct with a minor in 2004. Production assistant Jason Michael Handy and animator Ezel Channel were also identified as sex offenders condemned.
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