If you've seen the show, then this might not come as a huge surprise. Dan Schneider is reportedly taking the producers of the documentary series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV to court for defamation, claiming they falsely portrayed him as a child predator.
The docuseries Quiet on Set certainly made for headlines with its raw portrayal of the horrific circumstances child stars had to endure behind the scenes of some of our favorite kids shows, tainting the memories of beloved shows for many viewers.
Ex-Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider, best known for hit shows like Drake & Josh, The Amanda Show, iCarly and Victorious, is now suing the Quiet on Set producers for defamation, TMZ reports.
Defamation Lawsuit: Dan Schneider Takes Quiet On Set Producers To Court
When Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV first came out, the whole internet collectively lost its mind – rightfully so. With heart-breaking interviews by former child stars sharing their traumatic stories, an uproar followed, demanding justice and sharing sympathy for the victims of the abuse.
Originally, Dan Schneider spoke out after the docuseries hit and apologized for his behavior – too little, too late for many, especially because he dodged some of the hard-hitting questions. That's not the end of the story, though. Now, Schneider is taking legal action against the producers.
Reportedly, the defamation lawsuit includes not only the showrunners, but also Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony Pictures Televisions and more, claiming the documentary falsely paints him as a sexual predator himself, putting him in line with others that have actually been convicted.
[The producers] went beyond reporting the truth and falsely implied that I was involved in or facilitated horrific crimes for which actual child predators have been prosecuted and convicted. I have no objection to anyone highlighting my failures as a boss, but it is wrong to mislead millions of people to the false conclusion that I was in any way involved in heinous acts like those committed by child predators.
While he admits to some of his mistakes, i.e. not being aware enough and not doing enough to protect the people on set, he's still set on taking legal action, seeking damages for the mental distress and financial losses caused by Quiet on Set.
While the docuseries never states that Schneider is a sex abuser, it certainly paints a picture of him being a creep and a nightmare to work with, if not even an enabler of the horrific crimes that happened. Quiet on Set isn't the first one to do so, though.
For example, Jeanette McCurdy's book "I'm Glad My Mom Died" hints at Schneider being manipulative and controlling without calling him out by his name, simply calling the person "The Creator." McCurdy played Sam in iCarly and the spinoff show Sam & Cat. Also, re-watching some of his show as an adult certainly has an uncomfortable vibe to it at times when child stars are depicted inappropriately.
We'll keep you updated on the lawsuit, of course.