Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider apologises after claims of abuse and inappropriate behaviour

Dan Schneider expressed regret for his actions that were deemed unbecoming on the production sets of Nickelodeon programmes.

The previous person in charge of producing popular TV shows including Drake and Josh, iCarly, Victorious, and The Amanda Show, departed from Nickelodeon back in 2018.

During the past weekend, various performers, crew members and ex-young celebrities claimed to have faced mistreatment, untoward actions, and an unfavourable work atmosphere during their time working on productions led by Schneider, as reported in the article "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV".

He posted a video on YouTube lasting 20 minutes on Tuesday, in which he stated that he found the docuseries to be "challenging" and "awkward" to view.

Schneider stated that he has to confront his previous actions, a few of which are humiliating and caused him regret. He believes that he must provide significant apologies to certain individuals.

Jenny Kilgen, a former writer for The Amanda Show, stated in Quiet on Set that Schneider made inappropriate and sexual comments while on set. Additionally, he allegedly requested a massage from her.

In his video, he expressed regret for his actions and acknowledged that it was a mistake. He went on to say that he was sorry for any harm caused to those involved, including the people present at the time who may have also felt uneasy.

Schneider stated that all inappropriate material and humorous remarks in the television programs he created must be eliminated. He specified that all jokes were originally intended for a youthful audience, as children found them amusing.

Currently, there exist some grown-ups who are reflecting on them after two decades in their own perspective. I don't have any issues regarding that. It would be better if we exclude those jests from the program.

Schneider restated that his programs went through various rigorous checks, with numerous executives agreeing on the content and appearance of his shows. Additionally, many adults were present on the set and never expressed any worries.

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On the show Quiet on Set, Drake Bell, known for his role in the TV show Drake and Josh, claimed that he suffered sexual abuse by Brian Peck, who used to work as a dialogue coach at Nickelodeon.

Peck's spokesperson did not provide any feedback to NBC News, Sky News' partner, when approached for comments on Bell's accusations in the documentary series.

Peck did not fight the charges and was found guilty of engaging in inappropriate behavior with a child between the ages of 14 and 15. He also committed oral sex with a minor under the age of 16, as stated in a summary of the case from the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Peck received a jail term of 16 months. Bell mentioned in Quiet on Set that Schenider provided him with encouragement.

When questioned about the abuse claims made by Bells, Schneider expressed intense feelings and stated that he was not the one who recruited Peck. He even went ahead to refer to it as the most dismal time in his professional life.

During a court case involving attempted child endangerment, Bell admitted to being guilty in June 2021. The allegations were linked to an online occurrence that involved a 15-year-old supporter in 2017.

He received a punishment of two years under probation and had to complete 200 hours of community service.

A representative from Nickelodeon said in regards to Quiet on Set that even though they cannot confirm or deny allegations of past behavior during productions, Nickelodeon investigates all proper grievances in line with their goal to promote a secure and respectable work environment that is free from all types of inappropriate behavior and harassment.

At the top of our list are the health and happiness of not only our staff, actors, and production team, but also all kids. We have put in place many measures to guarantee that we are meeting our own demanding expectations as well as the demands of our viewers.

In 2021, The New York Times conveyed that Nickelodeon ended its partnership with Schneider following an internal inquiry that uncovered proof of him verbally mistreating colleagues. The inquiry, however, could not uncover any evidence indicating that he engaged in any sexual misconduct.

Following Schneider's recorded statement, a representative commented on the inquiry and conveyed that the outcome was simply that he was a difficult, strong-willed individual to work alongside and for, with no further discoveries.

The news channel Sky News has reached out to the representatives of Dan Schneider, as well as the network Nickelodeon, to provide a statement on a specific matter.