TV producer Dan Schneider is suing the creators of the docuseries "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of TV Kids" for defamation over how he was portrayed during his time at Nickelodeon.
Former Nickelodeon employees and actors attacked Schneider's behavior as a boss and complained about the sexualized humor in his shows.
The "Quiet on Set" series also featured personal accounts from various former child stars, including Drake Bell, who accused Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck of sexual assault.
Schneider says the production falsely linked him to sexual abuse and parts of it "falsely and repeatedly state or imply that Schneider is a child sexual abuser."
"There is no doubt that I was sometimes a bad leader. I am sincerely apologetic and regretful for that behavior, and I will continue to take accountability for it," Schneider said in a statement to HNGN.
But he added, "In their successful attempt to mislead viewers and increase ratings, they 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."
Schneider is the once-celebrated creator behind numerous Nickelodeon hits. He parted ways with the network in 2018.
"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," Schneider told HNGN. "I owe it to myself, my family, and the many wonderful people involved in making these shows to set the record straight."
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages.
Defendants include Warner Bros. Discovery, Maxine Productions, Sony Pictures Television and Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz, who directed the series.
