Dan Schneider breaks silence on 'Quiet on Set' allegations

A man holding an award onstage while several people stand behind and next to him cheering and applauding

Published March 18, 2024 Updated March 19, 2024 2:56 PM PT

Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider said he would have taken a different approach to his hit shows, after watching his TV empire face scrutiny in the docuseries “Quiet on Set.”

“Watching over the past two nights was very difficult,” he said in a video response published Tuesday, “me facing my past behaviors — some of which are embarrassing and that I regret — and I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”

In a nearly 20-minute conversation published by his production company, Schneider told “iCarly” actor BooG!e that he apologized for the discomfort employees — including actors and writers — say they felt while working his shows. In “Quiet on Set,” former cast members alleged that Schneider often tested boundaries by including off-color jokes and provocative gags in his series, which starred and were aimed at children.

He also condemned his aggressive past behavior on-set, acknowledging that he would often snap at people and “not give people time” as he faced the pressure of overseeing multiple productions.

“There were so many times I wanted to pick up a phone and call people and say, ‘I’m so sorry and let’s talk about it,’” he said.

The sentiments in Schneider’s response video echoed those expressed in a statement issued Monday.

A day after Investigation Discovery premiered its bombshell documentary on Sunday, a spokesperson for Schneider seemingly downplayed the accusations, writing, “In the challenges of production, Dan could get frustrated at times, and he understands why some employees found that intimidating and stressful.”

The statement described Schneider’s decades-long career in television. The statement also noted that the producer acknowledged that some people did not have a positive experience, and he is “truly sorry for that.”

“Dan knows he should have done better and feels awful about anyone who saw him at his worst, instead of his best,” the statement said.

“Quiet on Set” sought to shed light on allegations of sexual abuse and discrimination that young stars and staffers allegedly experienced during the producer’s Nickelodeon reign. In the docuseries, several former child actors (including Drake Bell), parents and crew members offer their accounts of Schneider’s alleged abuse of power.

Schneider also produced numerous Nickelodeon hits, including “Drake & Josh,” “Victorious,” “Zoey 101” and “All That.”

Over the years, former Nickelodeon stars spoke out against the alleged abuse they faced from Schneider and other Nickelodeon bosses. Jennette McCurdy alleged in her 2022 memoir that the network offered her a paycheck to keep quiet about unsettling experiences from when she starred in “iCarly.” “Zoey 101” actor Alexa Nikolas led a 2022 protest outside Nickelodeon’s Burbank studio, alleging that she and her fellow actors “were not safe.”

In “Quiet on Set,” Bell detailed the alleged sexual abuse that he experienced from dialogue coach Brian Peck, who worked on Schneider-created shows including “All That” and “The Amanda Show.” Peck was convicted in 2004 of child sex abuse.

In Tuesday’s video, Schneider denied claims that he hired Peck and teared up as he recalled helping Bell’s mother pen her speech for her testimony against him.

“That was probably the darkest part of my career,” he said.

Schneider’s video dispelled allegedly “false rumors” that he was banned from his Nickelodeon sets, discussed the producer’s close relationship with former child star Amanda Bynes and provided an explanation for the alleged pay disparity two writers said they experienced.

Repeating points from his Monday missive, Schneider underlined in his video that material from his shows — including stories, dialogue and costumes — was approved by network executives on two coasts.

“In addition, every day on every set, there were always parents and caregivers and their friends watching filming and rehearsals,” the Monday statement said. “Had there been any scenes or outfits that were inappropriate in any way, they would have been flagged and blocked by this multilayered scrutiny.”

Despite all the layers of approval, Schneider said he still would have taken a different approach to his shows if given a chance. In addition to adding therapists to counsel young talent on-set, he said, “The main thing I would change is how I would treat people and everyone.”

He concluded his video: “When I watched the [docuseries], 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 in my career and bring growth and the experience that I have now and just do a better job.”

Amid the buzz surrounding “Quiet on Set,” former Nickelodeon boss Russell Hicks also voiced support for Schneider. Hicks departed Nickelodeon in 2016 after 18 years at the company. During his tenure, he oversaw the network’s live-action and animation development and production for its various platforms including Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nick Jr.

Hicks, in a statement shared Monday with The Times, said Schneider “cared about the kids on his shows even when sometimes their own families unfortunately did not.” He also touted executive supervision over programming and the presence of talent’s parents and caregivers on set.

“Every single thing that Dan ever did on any of his shows was carefully scrutinized and approved by executives at Nickelodeon,” Hicks added.