Dan Schneider sues ‘Quiet on Set’ producers for defamation, calls show ‘hit job’

Dan Schneider sued the producers of 'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV' of falsely implying he is a child sexual predator 'for the sake of clickbait, ratings, and views.'

Dan Schneider has sued producers of the series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV for defamation over what he’s called a “hit job” that falsely implies he sexually abused child stars of the Nickelodeon shows he created.

The series, developed by Investigation Discovery, aired in March and uncovered alleged abuse and misconduct by several adult employees at Nickelodeon in the 1990s and early 2000s. Schneider was accused of bullying and inappropriate interactions with the child stars and crew members who worked on his shows.

Quiet on Set also discussed the crimes of three convicted child sex offenders, including ex-dialogue coach Brian Peck, who served a 16-month prison sentence for sexually abusing child star Drake Bell. Former production assistant Jason Michael Handy, who was charged with a lewd act with a child under 14, and ex-animator Ezel Channel, who received a seven-year sentence for lewd acts on a minor, were also named.

In the lawsuit obtained by Variety, filed May 1 in Los Angeles’ Superior Court, Schneider, 58, said the docuseries falsely implies he is also a child predator.

Schneider said he was unaware of any sexual abuse occurring at Nickelodeon and “condemned the abuse once it was discovered and, critically, was not a child sexual abuser himself.”

“But for the sake of clickbait, ratings, and views — or put differently, money — Defendants have destroyed Schneider’s reputation and legacy through the false statements and implications that Schneider is exactly that,” the lawsuit continues.

Schneider has sued Warner Bros. Discovery, Maxine Productions and Sony Pictures Television for defamation. The production companies have not commented publicly on the lawsuit.

Schneider is seeking unspecified damages. He has also asked for the removal of any allegedly defamatory statements or visuals from the docuseries, or to have the docuseries taken down entirely.