Dan Schneider Sues For Defamation Over Alleged Child Sexual Assault Claims In 'Quiet On Set'

Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider is suing the production companies behind the 'Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV' docuseries over alleged child sexual assault claims, according to documents obtained by The Blast.

In the popular MAX project, Schneider was accused of creating a toxic work environment, verbal abuse, racism, favoritism, and inappropriate behavior toward young actors.

Now, the former Nickelodeon producer is suing the production companies of the docuseries.

Schneider just filed a defamation lawsuit through his attorneys Jana Moser and Richard McKie, aimed at the 'Quiet On Set' docuseries and its creators for falsely portraying him as a sexual predator and indicating that he sexually abused the child actors who worked for him on shows including 'The Amanda Show,' 'All That,' 'Zoey 101,' and more.

Warner Bros. Discovery, Maxine Productions, and Sony Pictures Television are all named in the suit.

Throughout the docuseries, audiences watched as examples of "sexualized" scenes were shown, including one of Ariana Grande sitting on a bed asking “if you can get juice from a potato” as she squeezed the potato with both hands and said, “Come on, give up the juice!”

Another scene involves Amanda Bynes, who is clearly very young, wearing a swimsuit and sitting in a hot tub next to Dan Schneider, who is fully clothed.

Culture writer Scaachi Koul addressed Schneider's relationship with Bynes in the docuseries, stating, “He is kind of saying, ‘I created this situation. I am the reason we are in this hot tub. I am pulling the strings.’ Maybe at the time, people viewed it as a comedy, but I think now some people are very uncomfortable with the implication."

In the new lawsuit, Schneider claims the docuseries used manipulative editing techniques in order to create a false impression of his behaviors.

It also claims the defendants tried to include Schneider in the same category as two other convicted child sex offenders who worked on some of the Nickelodeon shows -- one of whom was Brian Peck, whom Drake Bell accused of sexual abuse.

“‘Quiet on Set’s’ portrayal of Schneider is a hit job," the docs state. "While it is indisputable that two bona fide child sexual abusers worked on Nickelodeon shows, it is likewise indisputable that Schneider had no knowledge of their abuse, was not complicit in the abuse, condemned the abuse once it was discovered and, critically, was not a child sexual abuser himself."

As referenced in the complaint, “The Trailer then doubles down on the implication that Schneider is not only a criminal in some way connected to children, but an abuser or, more specifically, a child sexual abuser."

"Immediately after the True Crime Graphic, the Trailer cuts to a photograph of Schneider as the voiceover states, 'Working for Dan was like being in an abusive relationship. Dan's treatment of people on his shows was an open secret,'" the complaint added.

Schneider goes on to claim that the companies behind the docuseries did it for "clickbait, ratings, and views -- or simply put, money."

Following the release of the docuseries, Dan Schneider sat down with former 'iCarly' actor BooG!E to address the claims and seemingly own up to his past actions.

“Watching over the past two nights was very difficult,” he said, referencing the docuseries, which is now streaming on MAX. “Me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret, I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”

“I wish I could go back, especially to those earlier years of my career, and bring the growth and the experience that I have now and just do a better job and never, ever feel like it was okay to be an a–hole to anyone, ever,” he added.

Following the allegations made by many former Nickelodeon actors, actresses, crew, and staff, the network released a statement.

“Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon, as a matter of policy, investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct," the company told USA Today.

'Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV' is streaming on MAX.