Keke Palmer’s Mom Labels Dan Schneider’s Nickelodeon Sets As 'Cultish'
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on August 7, 2024 at 12:45 PM EDT
Keke Palmer and her mom are reflecting on Keke's Nickelodeon days and sharing their views on Dan Schneider.
As previously reported by The Blast, numerous former Nickelodeon cast and crew members have accused the network, Dan Schneider, and Brian Peck of misconduct. Schneider, in particular, faced allegations of fostering a toxic work environment, inappropriate behavior toward young actors, verbal abuse, racism, favoritism, and more.
In the latest episode of "Baby, This Is Keke Palmer," Keke Palmer and her mother, Sharon, recalled what it was like working with former Nickelodeon executive Dan Schneider.
Keke Palmer Recalls Her Nickelodeon Days
Keke Palmer and her mom finally broke their silence following the bombshell docuseries, "Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV."
“I honestly do remember you having a lot to say about the Dan Schneider sets,” Keke said on the podcast, per Deadline. “I remember you feeling a way about Nickelodeon.”
Keke's mom then chimed in, “My honest opinion is I thought the whole atmosphere of the Dan Schneider set was very weird, very cultish. The parents were very secretive, and I honestly thought they all took themselves way too seriously.”
Did Keke Palmer Ever Work With Dan Schneider Directly?
Although Keke appeared in Nickelodeon shows, including "True Jackson, VP," she never specifically worked with Dan Schneider.
“I always looked at you being at Nickelodeon as being a stopping station. You didn’t get your start on Nickelodeon or Disney,” Keke's mom added. “You were blessed and fortunate enough to work in adult situations and kid situations."
Sharon continued, "My mentality about the entertainment business wasn’t that Disney Channel or Nickelodeon was the end all to be all, but a lot of the parents did.”
Keke Palmer Admits To Feeling Like She 'Was In A Prison'
The "Password" host then chimed in on the conversation, revealing that she felt "overly controlled and confined."
“In my experiences with you in this industry, I had moments where people tried to push us away from each other or try to come in between us,” Keke admitted. “You never would allow that kind of thing to go down. It created tension in our relationship – I definitely felt overly controlled and confined and almost like I was in a prison sometimes. But when I look back, I feel like you were really just being protective of me.”
Dan Schneider Issues An Apology Following 'Quiet On Set' Docuseries
Following the release of "Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV," Dan Schneider, the mastermind behind beloved children's shows like "The Amanda Show," "Victorious," and "Drake and Josh," addressed some of the allegations.
In an interview with "iCarly" actor BooG!e on his YouTube channel, he admitted it was "very difficult" to watch all four episodes of the Investigation Discovery special.
"Facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret," he said. "I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology."
Schneider had faced criticism for incorporating sexually suggestive jokes into shows intended for children. "Every one of those jokes was written for a kid audience because kids thought they were funny — and only funny," he added. "Now, we have some adults looking back at them 20 years later through their lens and they're looking at them and they're saying, 'I don't think that's inappropriate for a kids' show.' And I have no problem with that... Let's cut those jokes out of the show."
Nickelodeon Issues Statement Following Accusations Made Against Dan Schneider
In response to the accusations against Dan Schneider, a Nickelodeon spokesperson told CBS News in a statement that it can't "corroborate or negate allegations 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 spokesperson said.
"Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience," they added.
"Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV" is currently streaming on MAX.