East Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider Is suing the filmmakers of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids’ TV” for defamation.
Schneider alleged in his lawsuit that the filmmakers falsely alleged that he had sexually abused children while working at Nickelodeon.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, describes his portrayal in the five-part documentary as a “hit job.”
“While it is undisputed that two bona fide pedophiles worked on the Nickelodeon show, it is likewise undisputed that Schneider had no knowledge of their abuse, was not involved in the abuse, did not know of the abuse. He condemned it when he walked away and, critically, not “is a pedophile himself,” the filing says, obtained by Fox News Digital.
Former Nickelodeon child star reveals alleged sexual abuse in Bombshell documentary
Former Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider is suing the filmmakers of “Quiet on Set” for defamation, alleging they falsely accused him of sexually abusing children while working at Nickelodeon. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
“But for the sake of clickbait, ratings and views – or to put it differently, for money – the defendants have destroyed Schneider’s reputation and legacy through false statements and implications that Schneider is just that.”
Warner Bros. Discovery, which distributed the series through Max under the ID Discovery brand, Sony Pictures Television and Maxine Productions, are all named in the lawsuit.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Schneider said, “The recent documentary ‘Calm on set’ Highlighting the mistakes I made and the poor judgment I made during my time at Nickelodeon, most of which occurred decades ago while working on shows for Tolin/Robbins Productions during my early career as a producer. There is no doubt that I was a bad leader at times. I sincerely apologize and regret that behavior, and I will continue to take accountability for it.
“However, after seeing ‘Quit on Set’ and its trailers and the reactions to them, sadly I have no option but to take legal action against the people behind it for misleading the audience and boosting ratings. In their successful effort to report the truth, they proceeded to falsely allege that I was complicit in or perpetrating the same horrific crimes for which actual child predators have been prosecuted and convicted.
“I have no objection to anyone highlighting my failings as a boss, but it is wrong to mislead millions of people into the false conclusion that I was in any way involved in the heinous acts committed by child predators “I am responsible for this.” My family, and the many amazing people involved in making these shows, for setting the record.”
As a showrunner, Schneider was accused of running a toxic workplace, discriminating against female writers on staff, and requesting massages from staff on set. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Dan Schneider responds to ‘shut up on set’ claims, apologizes for past behavior at Nickelodeon
Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony Pictures Television and Maxine Productions did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“Quiet on Set” premiered in March, covering the bulk of Schneider’s time at Nickelodeon. As a showrunner, he was accused of running a toxic workplace, discriminating against female writers on staff, and requesting massages from staff on set.
The most shocking claim has come in the documentary Drake Bell, which detailed allegations of sexual abuse against Brian Peck, an actor and dialogue coach employed by Nickelodeon.
The lawsuit filed by Schneider’s legal team emphasizes the editing and graphics used in both the trailer and the episode, claiming that Schneider was also a pedophile.
Drake Bell appeared in “Quit on Set” accusing Brian Peck, not Schneider, of sexual assault. (Christopher Polk)
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According to court documents, “The voiceovers and graphics in ‘Quiet on Set’ and its trailer, combined with or edited into visual depictions, are knowingly and intentionally defamatory because they falsely and repeatedly state or imply that Schneider is a pedophile and has committed crimes in this regard – and has been interpreted as such by countless average, normal or reasonable audiences.”
It also notes that, in the trailer, Schneider “is not only the main focus – he is the only focus,” again indicating that he was responsible for criminal actions against children under his employment, when Other people like peck And Jason Handy, another convicted sex abuser who worked at Nickelodeon, is actually being discussed.
“Schneider was not involved in Peck’s crimes, he was unaware of Peck’s crimes until that information was made a matter of public record, and Schneider himself committed no such crimes. In this context, Schneider The sole reason for including the image was to falsely compare Schneider with Peck; the audience is left to speculate that just as Peck was a pedophile, so too was Schneider,” in one example in the filing. Having said.
In their filing, Schneider’s legal team claims that his image is often shown when discussing individuals actually responsible for child sexual abuse, creating a false association. (Victor Decolongan/Getty Images)
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Schneider is seeking “compensatory damages related to past and future losses, past and future economic losses, harm to reputation, loss of business, lost revenues, other economic injury and emotional distress” as well as punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. doing.
He is also seeking “preliminary or permanent injunctive relief, including editing, removing all or a portion of the trailer, or ‘remaining silent on set.'”
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At the end of the filing, Schneider’s legal team wrote, “Defendants maintained a false story in order to gain viewers, clicks, ratings or financial gain, or simply to be malicious and vindictive.”
