Once heralded as the “Norman Lear of children’s television” by the New York Times, former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider is now scrambling to save his reputation in the wake of the new docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which explores allegations of child sexual abuse and other forms of misconduct in Hollywood.
Dan Schneider responded to the Investigation Discovery docuseries on Tuesday, saying “I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”
The docuseries alleges he oversaw toxic workplace conditions where young children were present, and he allegedly verbally abused the cast and crews of his shows.
File/Executive producer Dan Schneider, actor Kel Mitchell (top row) actors Benjamin Flores Jr., Cree Cicchino, Madisyn Shipman and Thomas Kuc (bottom row) attend the Apple Store Soho Presents: Meet the Cast: “Nickelodeon’s Game Shakers” at the Apple Store Soho on September 10, 2015 in New York City. (Eric Vitale/Getty Images)
One accuser — a female writer on The Amanda Show — claims Schneider watched pornography on his computer at work and once told her that he would put one of her sketches in the show in return for a massage — a request that he allegedly made of other co-workers.
Schneider spoke to the iCarly star known as BooG!E in a video interview that was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
“Watching over the past two nights was very difficult, me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret and I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology,” he said.
Watch below:
When asked about the massages, Schneider said, “It was wrong. It was wrong that I ever put anybody in that position. It was a wrong thing to do. I’d never do it today. I’m embarrassed that I did it then. I apologize to anybody that I ever put in that situation.”
Later he added: “When I watched the show, I could see the hurt in some people’s eyes and it made me feel awful and regretful and sorry. I wish I could go back, especially to those earlier years of my career, and bring the growth and the experience that I have now and just do a better job and never, ever feel like it was okay to be an asshole to anyone, ever.”
As one of Nickelodeon’s top producers, Schneider oversaw several hit shows including iCarly, The Amanda Show, and Drake & Josh.
Quiet on Set explores the dark side of children’s entertainment in Hollywood, especially at Nickelodeon.
File/Executive producer Dan Schneider poses at the Apple Store Soho Presents: Meet the Cast: “Nickelodeon’s Game Shakers” at the Apple Store Soho on September 10, 2015 in New York City. (Eric Vitale/Getty)
The docuseries spends significant time on former teen star Drake Bell, who has claimed he was sexually abused as a minor by convicted sex offender and former dialogue coach Brian Peck during the making of the network’s Drake & Josh.
Bell sued Peck in 2004 under a pseudonym. His identity has only been revealed in the docuseries. Peck was convicted and sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Paramount-owned Nickelodeon issued a statement last week saying “we are dismayed and saddened.”
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