LOS ANGELES, May 2: Former Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider has taken legal action against Investigation Discovery’s docuseries, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” alleging defamation. The five-part series, which aired earlier this year, featured former child actors making accusations of abuse and misconduct during their time on popular Nickelodeon shows from the 1990s and 2000s, many of which Schneider created and oversaw.
Although Schneider addressed some claims in an apology following the show’s airing, he has filed a lawsuit arguing that the docuseries falsely portrayed him as a child sexual abuser. The suit claims that the portrayal was a “hit job” intended for clickbait and ratings, despite Schneider having no ties to the allegations against two convicted sex offenders who worked on some of the programs.
Schneider’s lawsuit contends that the docuseries misled viewers by focusing heavily on him in the trailer and first episode, implying his involvement in heinous crimes. It argues that manipulative editing and misleading photographs further exacerbated this false impression. Schneider’s legal team cites social media posts as evidence of the damage to his reputation caused by the series.
In response to the lawsuit, a representative for “Quiet on Set” has not provided immediate comment. Schneider maintains his innocence and seeks to clear his name from the damaging implications made by the docuseries.