Dan Schneider is suing the producers of Quiet on Set: The Darkish Facet of Youngsters TV for defamation, calling the Investigation Discovery docuseries “successful job.”
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, Might 1, and obtained by Us Weekly, names Warner Bros. Discovery, Maxine Productions, Sony Footage Tv and administrators Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz as defendants, alleging that the sequence falsely implies that Schneider “sexually abused the youngsters who labored on his tv reveals.”
“Whereas it’s indeniable that two bona fide youngster sexual abusers labored on Nickelodeon reveals, it’s likewise indeniable that Schneider had no data of their abuse, was not complicit within the abuse, condemned the abuse as soon as it was found and, critically, was not a toddler sexual abuser himself,” the lawsuit states. “However for the sake of clickbait, rankings, and views — or put otherwise, cash — Defendants have destroyed Schneider’s repute and legacy by way of the false statements and implications that Schneider is strictly that.”
Schneider is looking for damages for his tarnished repute, harassment he’s skilled for the reason that sequence aired, emotional ache and struggling and his lack of monetary and profession alternatives.
The previous producer has been open concerning the errors he made throughout his time at Nickelodeon, however he has regularly denied data of the sexual abuse dedicated by others on the community, together with dialogue and appearing coach Brian Peck.
“Lately the docuseries Quiet on Set highlighted errors I made and poor judgment I exhibited throughout my time at Nickelodeon, most of which occurred a long time in the past throughout my early profession as a producer, engaged on reveals for Tollin/Robbins Productions,” Schneider mentioned in an announcement to Us Weekly. “There isn’t any doubt that I used to be typically a nasty chief. I’m sincerely apologetic and regretful for that conduct, and I’ll proceed to take accountability for it.”
However Schneider’s errors, he says, don’t rise to what Quiet on Set implies them to be.
“Of their profitable try to mislead viewers and improve rankings, they went past reporting the reality and falsely implied that I used to be concerned in or facilitated horrific crimes for which precise youngster predators have been prosecuted and convicted,” the assertion continues.
The lawsuit factors to particular YouTube feedback below the trailer for the sequence, which point out that viewers took the footage to imply Schneider was responsible of sexual abuse himself. The go well with calls visible depictions within the sequence “purposefully and deliberately defamatory in that they falsely and repeatedly state or indicate that Schneider is a toddler sexual abuser and dedicated crimes on this regard.”
Schneider’s assertion concludes, “I’ve no objection to anybody highlighting my failures as a boss, however it’s unsuitable to mislead hundreds of thousands of individuals to the false conclusion that I used to be in any approach concerned in heinous acts like these dedicated by youngster predators. I owe it to myself, my household, and the numerous fantastic individuals concerned in making these reveals to set the document straight.”
Schneider exited Nickelodeon in 2018 after he was accused of misconduct. On the time, he denied the allegations towards him. Forward of Quiet on Set’s premiere, a rep for Schneider launched an announcement emphasizing his assist of the kid stars he labored with.
“Dan cared concerning the children on his reveals even when typically their very own households sadly didn’t. He understood what they had been going by way of and he was their greatest champion. The very fact is most of the children on these reveals are put within the untenable place of changing into the breadwinner for his or her household and the strain that comes together with that,” the assertion learn. “Add on prime of that the difficulties of rising up and having to take action below the highlight whereas working a demanding job, all as a toddler. That’s the reason there are lots of ranges of requirements, executives, legal professionals, academics and oldsters in all places, on a regular basis, on each set, each day. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless a tough place to be a child and no one knew that higher than Dan.”