Kianna Underwood, a former child actor known for roles in early-aughts Nickelodeon hits including All That and Little Bill, was killed Friday while walking in New York City. She was 33.
“I have fond memories of that place, and I have fond memories of my costars and stuff like that,” Thompson said. ”So to hear that they’ve gone through terrible things like that is really tough.”
Underwood was also the voice of Fuschia Glover in Little Bill, an animated series created by Bill Cosby. The Nickelodeon series, on which Kianna Underwood appeared from 1999-2004, was based on Cosby’s books of the same name. Cosby has faced allegations of sexual assault and abuse since at least 2014, when survivors including actor and model Beverly Johnsonpublicly accused him of drugging and raping them. Cosby was convicted of sexual assault in 2018, but was released from prison in 2021 after the conviction was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
As a child star, Underwood also appeared on stage, spending a year with the first national tour of Hairspray in the role of Little Inez. Underwood also had a brief career in film, appearing in the 1999 indie The 24-Hour Woman alongside Rosie Perez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Patti LuPone.
In 2023, actor Angelique Bates, who appeared on All That with Underwood, took to Instagram to seek help for her former cast mate, who Bates said was struggling with homelessness. “She’s one of us and she needs help but she’s not getting it … and nobody’s speaking on Kianna Underwood,” Bates said at the time. According to the New York Post, Underwood remained unhoused at the time of her death.
“Y’all have no idea how much this one hurts…Sick to my stomach,” Bates said Saturday via Instagram. “So many people failed baby girl,” she concluded.
Lisa Foiles, another former All That cast mate, mourned Underwood via Instagram stories early Saturday, writing, “I heard the news and I am absolutely devastated. Still processing it. I’m utterly heartbroken.”
An NYPD spokesperson says via statement that Underwood was crossing the intersection of Watkins Street and Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn at 6:45 a.m. Friday when she was struck first by the driver of a black Ford SUV, then was “subsequently struck by a black and gray sedan.” She died immediately, police say. Neither driver remained at the scene, and as of publication time, “There are no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad.”
A new round of allegations against Dan Schneider have emerged in the aftermath of Quiet on Set.Lori Beth Denberg, who starred on Schneider’s Nickelodeon series All That for four seasons between 1994 and 1998, alleged that the producer sexually “preyed on me” in a new interview with Business Insider. A 2022 investigation by the publication served as a basis for the docuseries. In a statement issued to both Business Insider and Vanity Fair, Schneider called Denberg’s accusations “wildly exaggerated and, in most cases, false.”
Denberg, who was 17 when she joined the sketch-comedy show, alleges that her relationship with Schneider became sexual around the time she turned 19. Denberg says that in a meeting with her, Schneider allegedly proceeded to show her clips of pornography on his computer. She claimed that the “grand finale” of the footage featured a woman performing oral sex on a donkey. “I feel like that is the first time he preyed on me,” Denberg told Business Insider.
“The fact that an executive producer of Quiet on Set [Business Insider reporter Kate Taylor] would pursue allegations regarding what may have happened between adults nearly 30 years ago—only a week after I filed a defamation lawsuit accusing Quiet on Set of being intentionally false and misleading—seems more than coincidental,” Schneider continued in a statement to VF.
Denberg also alleged that Schneider would call her during this period, and on one occasion, initiate phone sex with her. There were sleepovers at Schneider’s house, claimed Denberg, where they would give each other massages and Schneider would frequently watch porn on his computer. During one massage, Schneider allegedly fondled Denberg’s breasts and put his mouth on them. “I couldn’t have been more green,” Denberg said, calling her dynamic with Schneider, a “weird, abusive friendship.” She added, “I couldn’t have been more vulnerable.”
The actor, who shared several alleged encounters involving Schneider with Business Insider, also recalled a time that Schneider asked her to accompany him to his auto repairman. According to Denberg, the pair got pulled over by a police officer, Schneider gave her his gun, and she hid it under her skirt to shield it from the officer.
“As I have previously stated, there were times, particularly in the early years of my career, that I made mistakes and exhibited poor judgment as a leader,” Schneider said in his statement to VF. “If I did that with respect to Lori Beth, I sincerely apologize to her. But I cannot apologize for things I did not do.”
Denberg, who starred in last year’s Good Burger 2—a sequel to the hit 1997 Nickelodeon film starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell—previously spoke out against Schneider in 2020. “He’s not my favorite person,” she told Vice at the time. “He is not a pleasant person to work for, and I’m not confirming anything, but I’m not disappointed he won’t be darkening the doors of any more people working for him—and it’s not just kids, it’s anybody.” Denberg had returned for the 2019 All That reboot, which was helmed by original series writers Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert, who Denberg said made it feel like “the ship [is] being driven the right way.”
She decided to come forward with allegations against Schneider now, Denberg told Business Insider, to encourage others to speak up, adding, “There’s right and wrong, and there’s true and false.”
At the end of the workday, I like to shut my laptop screen and transition to my other screen times. Yes, as embarrassing as it is to say that, we all do it. You spend all day staring hard at your computer, just to end up looking at your phone and TV all night.
It’s not the healthiest way of living, but if I’m being honest it’s what we do. While we should aim to minimize our screen time as much as humanly possible, it’s tough when the entire planet is run by Apple. Suddenly, we’ve all developed an emotional attachment to our screens.
During the pandemic, documentaries soared in popularity. We’d run out of shows to watch, tired of the endless reality television loop, and turned to true crime. Podcasts like Serial, Morbid, and Crime Junkie all followed famous cases of serial killers, thieves, and grotesque examples of inhumanity.
And, as someone with FOMO who’s fallen victim to the grip of pop culture and constantly needs to stay in the know, I’ve done my due diligence, my field research. I’ve combed through days worth of documentaries searching for the best of the best.
A good documentary contains at least one of these elements: shock factor, eye-witness testimony, and at least one moment worthy of a viral clip. Take Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened…which became an overnight meme thanks to Fyre Fest producer Andy King detailing how he was willing to offer oral sex in exchange for Evian Water to save the festival.
What’s The Best Streaming Service For Documentaries?
It’s about getting the people talking, and no streaming service makes a better documentary than HBO Max (more recently known as just “Max.”). Max somehow knows exactly what the people want to see and that’s…drama.
Since there are so many documentaries out there, you’ve got to find a way to keep people interested. We already know many of the infamous serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, so it takes true storytelling to get our attention.
HBO Max does something special: finding lesser known stories, nabbing exclusive interviews, and catching the story at the right time. Sure, Netflix shows you what’s already happened, but somehow Max gets ahead of the story every time.
The most shocking and relevant docus are on HBO Max, so if you’re ready to binge watch something that will have your jaw on the floor…I’ve got you covered.
Here are my top 4 documentaries on HBO Max that you can stream right now!
Love Has Won: The Cult Of Mother God
Have you ever witnessed such ludicrous, outlandish behavior that it almost makes you laugh? Welcome to Love Has Won, a cult led by the late Amy Carlson known as “Mother God,” “Mother” for short.
Mother claimed she’d been reincarnated 534 times as notable figures like Jesus, Marilyn Monroe, and Cleopatra. She promised to lead 144,000 people into the 5th dimension. Not only that, but Donald Trump was her father in a past life and she frequently speaks to Robin Williams…who’s no longer present in the “physical.”
In May 2021 Amy Carlson died due to: anorexia, chronic colloidal silver ingestion, and acute alcohol abuse. But the cult believed she had finally ascended. Even pushing colloidal silver as the magic elixir, this documentary truly has everything.
BS High
This documentary answers the question: “What if you went to high school and it wasn’t real?” From 2019-2021, Bishop Sycamore High School advertised themselves as a sports training academy that would forge young men into 5-star D1 recruits for football.
The team went on to play some of the best high school football teams. But after mounting hype around their players…people soon realized that these boys were far from D1 recruits. During the 2021 season, they somehow landed the fourth toughest schedule in the nation…and none of the teams they played were in Ohio.
Led by coach and BS High founder Roy Johnson, BS High was slated to play the best: IMG Academy. After facing odd scheduling and huge blowouts, IMG romped BS, 58-0. From there, Roy Johnson was exposed for hundreds of lies: essentially creating a fake high school and none of the players received even a GED.
Featuring first-hand interviews from Roy Johnson and the players themselves, this docu is both crazy and sad.
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths Of Robert Durst
If you’re going to watch one documentary on this list, make it this one. Robert Durst is a real estate heir who had never cooperated with a journalist before. Durst was so enamored with director of The Jinx Andrew Jarecki’s work that he offered to sit down and do an interview with Andrew.
Durst’s story is intriguing because he was surrounded by death. His wife, Kathie, had been missing since 1982. His friend, writer Susan Berman, was killed execution-style in 2000. His neighbor, Morris Black, was found dismembered in 2001. The one common denominator? Robert Durst.
As Durst is interviewed over the years, you see the conniving mega-millionaire evade any consequence as evidence piles up against him. Clearly this guy is guilty…which was solidified when he was arrested a day before the finale came out. But the final twist will have shocked to the core.
Plus, The Jinx part two comes out April 21.
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV
One of the most recent viral documentaries hits close to home. Growing up, I was a devout Nickelodeon viewer. My nights ended with The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, iCarly, and more. Over the years, fans have closely watched as many former beloved child actors have had very public breakdowns. And it’s all being explained now by HBO.
Quiet On Set exposes Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider’s treatment of employees and cast members throughout his tenure at the network. It includes horrifying accounts from cast members such as Drake Bell, who details the sexual abuse he encountered from dialogue coach, Brian Peck.
Dan Schneider’s downfall has been building since the glory days of Nickelodeon, and it all peaks with this documentary.
After Quiet On Set revealed alleged abuse child actors faced, Zoey 101’s Chris Massey spoke out amid his mother praising accused predator and Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider.
Source: Patrick McMullan / Getty
Brothers Kyle and Chris Massey, managed by their mother Angela Massey, became well-known actors among Young Millennials and Gen Z members. As child stars of Disney Channel and Nickelodeon’s biggest shows, they kept kids laughing throughout their careers.
On Zoey 101, Chris Massey played the character of Michael, a loveable Pacific Coast Academy student-athlete. Massey has remained relatively quiet since his time on the show, but he did appear in Zoey 102, a movie continuation of Zoey 101.
Amid many allegations against Dan Schneider, the creator of several Nickelodeon shows, including Zoey 101, wondered about more possible survivors. While Massey has not made an official public statement, he has promised to tell his story soon.
In early March 2024, a trailer for a docuseries detailing the lives of childhood stars began to circulate. It was clear that the focus of the docuseries would be on child stars of former Nickelodeon TV shows and their stories.
Quiet on the Set: The Darkside of Kids TV premiered on Investigation Discovery on Mar. 17, 2024. It featured many Nickelodeon stars, crew members, and writers as they told their experiences with the network, sexual abuse, harassment, toxic work environments, and Dan Schneider.
The film exposed many terrifying details, including Schiender’s alleged sexism, misogyny, inappropriate language, and overbearing behavior. Across multiple testimonies, child actors all revealed stories of mistreatment from the showrunner.
In an interview published on Schnieder’s YouTube channel, he admitted responsibility for a several inappropriate actions and admitted he owes certain people apologies. Still, the Massey brother’s mother, Angela Massey, sees Schneider as innocent.
See Chris Massey’s response to his mother’s comments after the flip.
Angela Massey Supports Dan Schneider, Chris Massey Vows To Tell His Own Story
Source: Angela Weiss / Getty
As the episodes of Quiet on the Set: The Darkside of Kids TV began to air, social media was lit up with commentary. Many users were mortified by the information revealed, but Angela Massey was one of the few to support Schneider publicly.
Angela took to Instagram with questionable grammar and stated, “Dan Schneider You are awesome. You are a genius I can’t thank this guy enough for the opportunity have gave my son and my family. BLAME THE PARENTS NOT DAN.”
Immediately, social media users reacted to her statement, including her son, Chris. Chris Massey took to his Instagram stories and stated, “my story will be told from me…. not from a parent, a friend, a co-worker… ME!!! and only ME… so please stop messaging me about what my mom said… respectfully.”
Many replies asked how she could support Schneider when her sons also worked with hin. In response, she called them “brainwashables.”
According to the Jasmine Brand, Angela did not stop there. Following her son’s comments, she doubled down. Angela added that the family had “an exemplary experience with Dan Schneider.”
She then turned her attention to TMZ. In an Instagram post, she expressed disdain for the docuseries. She charged the media with creating a documentary focused on TMZ founder Harvey Levin and allegations of a toxic work environment.
Angela also shared screenshots of emails sent asking TMZ to publish updated information on Kyle Massey’s sexual misconduct with a minor case. In 2021, Kyle was accused of sending inappropriate pictures to a 13-year-old. Angela claimed the allegations were false and asked TMZ to relay this information.
Angela defending Schneider shocked social media users, who reminded her of Kyle’s legal troubles. However, she continued to show support for Schneider. Users continue to wait for further statements from Chris.
Dan Schneider, a former Nickelodeon producer, has found himself at the center of abuse allegations since the release of the ‘Quiet On Set’ docuseries. Now, The Shade Room is delving into why Schneider was severed from the company in 2018.
Here’s What Nickelodeon & Dan Schneider Reportedly Stated At The Time
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Schneider was a former actor. He met Albie Hecht, a fellow producer and former president of Nickelodeon Entertainment, who hired him to work on the sketch comedy show ‘All That’ in the 90s.
The outlet reports that after four seasons, Schneider quit the series before returning to revive the show in 2001.
From there, the producer’s resume at Nick would grow. It would ultimately include shows such as ‘The Amanda Show,’ ‘Drake & Josh,’ ‘Zoey 101,’ and more.
However, on March 26, 2018, Schneider’s decades-long run at Nick would come to an end. According to the outlet, Nickelodeon and Schneider’s production company “agreed to not extend” its “current deal.”
“Following many conversations together about next directions and future opportunities, Nickelodeon and our longtime creative partner Dan Schneider/Schneider’s Bakery have agreed to not extend the current deal,” Nickelodeon and Schneider reportedly shared in a joint statement, per Deadline. “Since several Schneider’s Bakery projects are wrapping up, both sides agreed that this is a natural time for Nickelodeon and Schneider’s Bakery to pursue other opportunities and projects.”
Nickelodeon reportedly thanked Schneider for creating “a string of lasting, groundbreaking” kids TV shows for Nick “over the years.”
“We thank Dan and his Schneider’s Bakery producers, executives and social media team for their immeasurable contributions to Nickelodeon, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors. And Dan and Schneider’s Bakery are proud of the work they did together with Nickelodeon and will always remain big fans of the network,” Nickelodeon added, per the outlet.
Allegations Were Reportedly Stirring About Dan Schneider In 2018
According to Nellie Andreeva’s 2018 Deadline report, there had “been multiple complaints of abusive behavior against Schneider filed by members of his staff.”
Andreeva added that “Schneider had been under a cloud of suspicion,” This was reportedly due to his “treatment of some younger stars of his shows.”
Andreeva also noted that Schneider was accused of enacting long work schedules and having “well-documented temper issues for years.”
Business Insider adds that multiple investigations were also launched into Schneider during his time at Nick. Schneider has alleged that a 2013 investigation did not “bar” him from working with the Nick actors. However, he “chose to give notes” to his cast “from his office.”
Additionally, the outlet notes that a 2017 investigation — sparked amid the #MeToo Movement — did not yield “evidence of inappropriate sexual behavior” by Schneider. However, “it did find proof of verbal abuse in the workplace.”
Here’s What Was Revealed About Dan Schneider In ‘Quiet On Set’ & His Response
As The Shade Room previously reported, ‘Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’ aired on Sunday, March 17, and Monday, March 18. The four-part docuseries exposed the toxic work culture of popular kid shows between the 90s and 2000s.
Drake Bell, the former star of ‘Drake & Josh,’ revealed he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Nick dialogue coach at 15.
Bell ultimately explained that Schneider was initially unaware of the incidents. However, he offered Bell his full support after becoming aware. However, the docuseries also showed accounts from multiple former Nick staff members who alleged Schneider promoted an “uncomfortable” work environment. Additionally, they alleged Schneider’s skits “sexualized” his child cast and even included racist jokes.
In an initial response to the docuseries, a spokesperson for Schneider seemed to defend his actions during his time at Nick.
“Everything that happened on the shows Dan ran was carefully scrutinized by dozens of involved adults, and approved by the network. Had there been any scenes or outfits that were inappropriate in any way, they would have been flagged and blocked by this multilayered scrutiny,” the statement read, per USA Today. “…If there was an actual problem with the scenes that some people, now years later are ‘sexualizing,’ they would be taken down, but they are not, they are aired constantly all over the world today still, enjoyed by both kids and parents.”
However, Schneider would ultimately admit to “[owing] some people a pretty strong apology” in a recently released interview.
Drake Bell is speaking out after social media users flooded the comments of Josh Peck‘s social media accounts. This came after he remained silent after Bell’s recent sexual assault revelation.
Here’s What’s Going Down With Drake Bell & Josh Peck
According to TMZ, social media users spent the week running Peck’s comments up after ‘Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’ aired earlier this week. As The Shade Room previously reported, the four-part docuseries explored the “toxic” culture of popular children’s shows between the 1990s and early 2000s.
Additionally, the docuseries shined a spotlight on the previous work culture at Nickelodeon. Furthermore, it was alleged the channel’s producer, Dan Schneider, “sexualized” the child actors. In addition, he was accused of incorporating “racist” jokes into skits and promoting an “uncomfortable work environment.
Furthermore, some actors reportedly felt like they experienced an “abusive” relationship while working with Schneider, per The Shade Room.
Drake Bell even revealed that he was sexually assaulted by Brian Peck, a Nickelodeon dialogue coach, at the age of 15, per The Shade Room.
“I was sleeping on the couch where I usually sleep and… I woke up to him… I opened my eyes, and I woke up, and he was… he was sexually assaulting me,” Bell explained during the docuseries. “….Anytime I had an audition, or anytime I needed to work on dialogue or anything, I somehow ended up back at Brian’s house. And it just got worse, and worse, and worse, and worse, and I was just trapped. I had no way out. The abuse was extensive, and it got pretty brutal.”
Here’s What Prompted Social Media Users To Enter Josh Peck’s Comments
On March 17 — the day the first portion of the documentary aired — Bell’s former ‘Drake & Josh’ co-star took to TikTok to share a video. According to IMDb, the pair starred together on the show between 2004-2007. This followed them also working side by side on ‘The Amanda Show’ between 1999-2002, per IMDb.
TikTok users appeared to believe that Peck’s clip would address the allegations shared in the docuseries. Or the former child actor would speak on Bell’s sexual assault revelation.
However, Peck stayed clear of the series and Bell’s revelation completely. Instead, the TikTok video showed him doing a voiceover.
“If I haven’t talked to you since 2023, take that as a f*****g sign that you don’t exist to me anymore. D**n, you f*****g bug. You got sprayed with the Raid. Bye! See you never,” Peck lipsynchs in the video.
Here’s What Social Media Users Said
Peck’s TikTok immediately prompted comments as it garnered over 7 million views.
TikTok user @Mother Bucker wrote, “It’s giving ✨Dan Schneider Core✨”
While TikTok user @thebluemermaidmama 🍉 added, “Your silence speaks volumes bro. It’s really sad. 😢”
TikTok user @Kinsey hibler wrote, “The timing with this is .. odd”
While TikTok user @Monique🧸, added, “*sigh* Josh you disappointed us..”
TikTok user @MissJoebob wrote, “In the end we will not remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”
While TikTok user the Junque Love added, “WE ALL WATCHED IT JOSH.”
Over on Peck’s latest post on Instagram, the comments continued. However, many accused the actor of deleting their thoughts.
Instagram user @samialexis._ wrote, “You could delete the comment all you want doesn’t matter. Gonna have to block me or turn off them comments bookie”
While Instagram user @lamarie002 added, “You taking the time to delete comment instead of taking the time to actually reflect is mind baffling”
Drake Bell Defends Josh Peck
Amid the backlash toward Peck, Bell took to TikTok to share his own video. The actor explained that he noticed the comments toward Peck and wanted to let fans know that right now is a “really emotional time.”
Bell explained that “not everything is put out to the public.” However, he wants fans to know that Peck reached out to him.
“He has reached out to me and it’s been very sensitive but he has reached out to talk with me and help me work through this and has been really great,” Bell said. “And I just wanted to let you guys know that and take it a little easy on him.”
NOTE: The following article contains disturbing content. Please read at your own discretion.
Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider has apologized for his “embarrassing” on-set behaviour in a new interview that addresses claims he sexualized former child stars and created a toxic work environment.
Schneider produced some of the most popular children’s television shows of the 2000s and 2010s, including The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, iCarly and Victorious. In recent years, Schneider, 60, has seen his TV empire crumble amid accusations of bullying and inappropriate interactions with the child stars and crew members who worked on his shows.
On Tuesday, Schneider posted a nearly 20-minute-long interview in which he responds to several allegations made against him in Investigation Discovery’s new four-part docuseries entitled Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. He was interviewed by the actor BooG!E, who won the admiration of tween fans for his comedic portrayal of the character T-Bo on iCarly.
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“Watching over the past two nights was very difficult — me facing my past behaviours, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret. I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology,” Schneider said.
“When I watched the show, I could see the hurt in some people’s eyes, and it made me feel awful and regretful and sorry,” he continued. “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 OK to be an a—hole to anyone, ever.”
“I can tell you why it hurts really bad for me,” Schneider said of the allegations against him.
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“I was green. I was scared. I was excited. It meant the world to me that I was getting these opportunities,” he recalled. “I went in and I got lucky, because my first couple experiences were fantastic. And the fact that I didn’t pay it forward to every employee that walked through my door, it hurts my heart because I should have, and I wish I could go back and fix that.”
Schneider left Nickelodeon in 2018 following an investigation that found he’d been verbally abusive to several staff members.
Sexualized scenes featuring child stars
Much of the complaints against Schneider — posed both by ex-child stars and former fans of his work — are to do with seemingly sexualized jokes acted out by minors in his TV shows.
Some of these scenes, many of which have resurfaced on social media in recent years, have been called hypersexual or subtle fetish content by Schneider’s accusers and the now-adult, retrospective viewers of his programs. Examples of such scenes include a teenage Ariana Grande sucking on her own toes in Sam and Cat or footage of Schneider eating spaghetti in a hot tub with a young Amanda Bynes while filming The Amanda Show.
When asked by BooG!E about the sexualized jokes, Schneider appeared to shift some of the blame onto higher-ups at Nickelodeon.
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“The notion that I had the power to write whatever I wanted and have it air is completely false,” he said. “There were many, many levels of scrutiny. We had executives in LA, we had executives in New York. Two coasts of approval.”
Schneider said everything from his writing to wardrobe, makeup, sound and set choices for his shows had to be approved by his bosses, who were Nickelodeon executives.
However, Schneider did agree that some of the jokes in his shows went too far. He said the inappropriate scenes should be cut from episodes that are still airing on Nickelodeon or are available to stream online.
“Every one of those jokes was written for a kid audience because kids thought they were funny and only funny,” Schneider defended. “Now, we have some adults looking back at them 20 years later through their lens, and they’re looking at them and saying, ‘I don’t think that’s appropriate for a kid’s show.’”
“I want my shows to be popular. I want everyone to like [the shows], the more people who liked the shows, the happier I am. So, if there’s anything that needs to be cut because it’s upsetting somebody, let’s cut it.”
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Drake Bell’s bombshell revelation
In the third episode of Quiet on Set, Drake Bell, who as a minor starred in both Drake & Josh and The Amanda Show, said he was the juvenile victim in the sexual abuse case of Brian Peck, a former Nickelodeon dialogue coach.
Bell, now 37, said he was the unnamed teenager in the trial that saw Peck convicted of child molestation in 2004. The sexual abuse allegedly occurred when Bell was 15 years old, though his identity had never been publicly revealed prior to the docuseries.
Peck was arrested on 11 charges of child sexual abuse, including employment of a minor for pornography. He served 16 months in prison and was made to register as a sex offender.
In the docuseries, Bell had a difficult time recounting the abuses he experienced, and instead said to the camera: “Why don’t you think of the worst thing someone can do to someone that is sexual assault and that’ll answer your question.”
In his interview, Schneider said he did not hire Peck at Nickelodeon.
Schneider said he was “devastated” when a then-teenage Bell told him about the abuse he’d experienced at the hands of Peck, who was his coach.
“When Drake and I talked and he told me about what happened, I was more devastated by that than anything that ever happened to me in my career thus far,” Schneider said. “And I told him, ‘I’m here for you.’”
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Schneider also became emotional when he recounted an instance where Bell’s mother asked him to help write a speech that would be read to the courtroom during Peck’s trial.
“She came to me at the time, and she said, ‘Dan, I’m not good with words like you are. And would you help me with my speech for the judge?’ I said, ‘Of course,’” Schneider recalled.
Schneider called Peck’s abuse and subsequent criminal trial “the darkest part of my career.”
Alongside Bell’s admission of abuse, one of the most shocking details to come from the documentary was the reveal of several celebrities’ names, each of whom wrote some of the 41 letters submitted to the judge in support of Peck. At the time of his trial, James Marsden, Ron Melendez, Alan Thicke, Rider Strong, Will Friedle and Taran Killam all wrote positive character letters.
Friedle and Strong, who starred in the popular ’90s TV show Boy Meets World, on their podcast recently revealed they regret voicing support for Peck.
Schneider said “Drake was devastated” by the support for Peck from so many entertainment industry professionals.
Inappropriate behaviour on-set
Schneider has been accused of acting inappropriately toward a number of girls and women who worked on his Nickelodeon TV shows.
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Though Schneider has not been accused of any sexual misconduct, he asked some crew members on his sets to give him body massages, an allegation covered in Quiet on Set. Former Amanda Show writer Jenny Kilgen said Schneider told her he would put the sketches she penned into the show in exchange for a massage.
Schneider acknowledged the behaviour in his interview and said, “It was wrong.”
“It was wrong to do. I’d never do it today,” he claimed. “I’m embarrassed that I did it then. I apologize to anybody that I ever put in that situation.”
Schneider apologized to anyone who may have witnessed the massages on set and “may have felt uncomfortable.”
His apologies didn’t end there. Schneider also said sorry for any pranks and inappropriate jokes he told in his writers rooms. Among the allegations, some writers who worked formerly under Schneider said they were forced to act out sexually suggestive scenes in the writers room.
“Let me just say, no writer should ever feel uncomfortable in any writers room, ever. Period. The end. No excuses,” he said.
“There are definitely things that I would do differently,” Schneider reflected. “The main thing that I would change is how I treat people and everyone. I definitely at times didn’t give people the best of me. I didn’t show enough patience. I could be cocky and definitely over-ambitious and sometimes just straight-up rude and obnoxious, and I’m sorry that I ever was.”
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Schneider told BooG!E he retrospectively wished he would have employed licensed therapists to manage child actors throughout filming processes.
Regardless, Schneider cited instances where he felt he did right by the young actors in his shows. He recalled an instance when Amanda Bynes, then 16 or 17 years old, allegedly phoned him after an argument with her parents.
“It was very late. Well after midnight, or 1 or 2 in the morning, the phone rang,” he recalled. “I answered it, and it was Amanda. She was in distress. She had had some conflict with her parents — I think her father — and she called. I was immediately concerned for her safety.”
Schneider said he intervened and had someone pick up Bynes, who was brought to police.
Bynes has not commented publicly about Schneider’s claims.
Jennette McCurdy and ‘The Creator’
Actor Jennette McCurdy, who played Sam Puckett on iCarly and Sam & Cat, recounted numerous negative experiences while working at Nickelodeon in her memoir, I’m Glad My Mother’s Dead.
In the book, McCurdy, 31, discusses several interactions with a Nickelodeon employee called only “The Creator,” believed to be Schneider.
She wrote that The Creator was “mean-spirited, controlling, and terrifying” and was known to make “grown men and women cry with his insults and degradation.”
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Among her numerous allegations of workplace mistreatment, McCurdy claimed she was offered a US$300,000 (almost C$405,000) “thank-you gift” from Nickelodeon after Sam & Cat ended. McCurdy did not take the money because it was offered on the condition that she never publicly discuss her experiences at Nickelodeon, specifically to do with The Creator.
Some former child stars aren’t buying it
Alexa Nikolas, who played Nicole Bristow on the Schneider’s hit show Zoey 101, during a livestream to her social media accounts Tuesday, said Schneider’s apologies are long overdue.
“I don’t feel bad for you, Dan Schneider, because it’s sad that it took you this long to apologize to us,” she said while standing outside Nickelodeon’s offices in Burbank, Calif.
“Not only did you bully me, you actually put me in a situation where creeps are going to look at me in a certain way as a child,” she continued. “You’re embarrassed? That’s a joke.”
She deemed Schneider “the champion of creeps.”
Nikolas called for an end to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for children working in entertainment, as well as the inclusion of third-party children’s advocates on-set.
‘Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’ is now streaming on Discovery Plus and Amazon Prime Video.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or is involved in an abusive situation, please visit the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for help. They are also reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
Now that Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, an Investigation Discovery docuseries about alleged abuse and exploitation at kids’ network Nickelodeon, has aired in full, the once-celebrated network mogul Dan Schneider is apologizing on camera for the first time.
Schneider, who has long faced toxicity allegations and parted ways with Nickelodeon in 2018, previously shared a statement regarding the docuseries with Vanity Fair, but went into more detail in a newly released video. He is interviewed by BooG!e, who played the character of T-Bo on Schneider’s iCarly. The performer said he approached the producer after watching Quiet on Set. “BooG!e wants to make clear though that he is not a journalist and wasn’t trying to be,” a spokesperson for Schneider tells VF. “He was offering to provide a platform for Dan to confront a lot of his previous behaviors.”
“Watching over the past two nights was very difficult,” Schneider began in the sit-down. “Me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret. I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.” He continued, “When I watched the show, I could see the hurt in some people’s eyes, and it made me feel awful and regretful and sorry. 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 asshole to anyone, ever.”
One of the biggest bombshells from the series is a revelation from former child star Drake Bell, who said that in between roles on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh,he was sexually abused by his vocal coach, Brian Peck, whom he met on set. In October 2004, Peck was sentenced to 16 months in prison after being convicted on sexual abuse charges, and ordered to register as a sex offender.
“When Drake and I talked and he told me about what had happened, I was more devastated by that than anything that ever happened to me in my career thus far. And I told him, ‘I’m here for you,’” Schneider said in the video. At another point, he teared up when claiming that Bell’s mother approached him for help in writing a speech to read at Peck’s trial. “She came to me at the time, and she said, ‘Dan, I’m not good with words like you are. And would you help me with my speech for the judge? I said, ‘Of course.’ I did, and he [Peck] ended up going to prison and serving his time.”
The producer called this “the darkest part of my career” and said he still doesn’t know why Peck was allowed to continue working on children’s programming after his prison stint. “He was hired on a Disney Channel show,” said Schneider. “I don’t understand that.” (According to Variety, Peck was terminated after Disney learned of his history.)
When codirectors Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz dove into making Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, an Investigation Discovery docuseries about alleged abuse and exploitation at kids’ network Nickelodeon, they created a list of names. “We literally put together a spreadsheet,” Schwartz recently told Vanity Fair. “We called everybody we could find on IMDb who had been in crew, who had been in cast, and just people across the industry. You talk to more people and talk to more people. Taking time to build a relationship, to build trust, to get to know people and understand what’s important to them.”
Among those who spoke to the filmmakers were former child star Drake Bell, who in between roles on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show and Drake & Joshsays he suffered sexual abuse at the hands of his vocal coach Brian Peck, whom he met on set. When asked to get into specifics about the abuse, Bell suggested that someone might “think of the worst stuff that someone could do to somebody as a sexual assault—and that’ll answer your question.” In October 2004, Peck was convicted on sexual abuse charges, sentenced to 16 months in prison, and ordered to register as a sex offender.
By sharing his story, Bell joins former Nick stars like Alexa Nikolas (who also appears in the series) and Jennette McCurdy in publicizing alleged wrongdoing at the network that gave them their big breaks. The four-part series, which launches into Bell’s account with the final two episodes airing tonight on ID at 9 p.m., has already sparked statements from the likes of Nickelodeon mega-producer Dan Schneider, who is no stranger to toxicity allegations. Ahead, some of the reactions to the bombshell docuseries.
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon previously said in a statement to Vanity Fair that it “investigates all complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace” and that it has “adopted numerous safeguards over the years.” In an additional comment to Deadline, the network directly addressed the abuse allegations made by one of its biggest stars. “Now that Drake Bell has disclosed his identity as the plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength required to come forward,” Nickelodeon said in a statement.
Dan Schneider
The name on nearly every documentary participant’s lips is Dan Schneider, who created a bevy of hit shows for Nickelodeon and faced numerous complaints of a hostile work environment during his tenure. In 2018, Nickelodeon cut business ties with Schneider. In a previous statement, Schneider told VF that reports of his abusive behavior in publications such as Deadline were not to blame for the parting of ways. However, he maintains: “I would absolutely do some things differently. I’ve learned a lot over the years about how to be a better boss.” As for allegations in Quiet on Set about imbuing his children’s shows with subliminal adult sexuality, Schneider also denied those claims. “Everything that happened on the shows I ran was scrutinized by dozens of involved adults,” he said in a statement. “A standards and practices group read and ultimately approved every script, and programming executives reviewed and approved all episodes.”
Schneider’s representative offered a similar statement to Variety about the series, adding, “If there was an actual problem with the scenes that some people, now years later are ‘sexualizing,’ they would be taken down, but they are not, they are aired constantly all over the world today still, enjoyed by both kids and parents.” The statement also maintained that “every day on every set, there were always parents and caregivers and their friends watching filming and rehearsals,” adding, “Had there been any scenes or outfits that were inappropriate in any way, they would have been flagged and blocked by this multilayered scrutiny. Unfortunately, some adults project their adult minds onto kids’ shows, drawing false conclusions about them.”
In the docuseries, some note Schneider’s habit of asking employees (many of them female) for massages while on set. “Dan deeply regrets asking anyone for neck massages,” his team said in response to Variety. “Though they happened in public settings, he knows this was highly inappropriate and would never happen again.”
Russell Hicks
The network’s former president of content and production referred to Schneider as “one of the most prolific producers of hit television in the kids and family entertainment business,” in his own statement to Variety. “Dan’s shows transcend children’s television and are staples on many streaming platforms today, enjoyed by both kids and their parents,” the statement continued. “Dan cared about the kids on his shows even when sometimes their own families unfortunately did not.” Hicks concluded that “every single thing that Dan ever did on any of his shows was carefully scrutinized and approved by executives at Nickelodeon.”
Amy Berg
Amy Berg, who has gone on to write and produce for shows including Jack Ryan and Law & Order: Organized Crime, reflected on her first Hollywood job—as Schneider’s assistant—in a statement posted to X on Monday. It was a title she held for less than a year before writing and co-executive producing the final seasons of the Nickelodeon series, Kenan & Kel and All That. “During my year with Dan, I wasn’t aware of any physically inappropriate behavior,” Berg writes. “What I can confirm, however, is that he was a fucking asshole. A psychological tormenter. He introduced me to panic attacks and the stress of working for him caused me to develop a significant heart arrhythmia. I eventually had surgery to [mostly] correct the issue, but by that point I’d lost all of my 20s. He stole those years from me.”
