The new ID docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV has been released to streaming platforms. The series explores well-known TV shows such as iCarly, Victorious, and The Amanda Show, and how the creator, Dan Schneider (iCarly), had allegedly sexualized child actors in the creation of these series. Now, TVLine has reported that the creator is denying these allegations and stating that there was no intent to sexualize the young child actors.
A representative for Schneider stated to Variety that there was no intention to sexualize the actors and their characters. The representative then went on to explain that the show’s content had to go through several panels of approval before hitting the air, and if there were an issue it would have been caught.
“Everything that happened on the shows Dan ran was carefully scrutinized by dozens of involved adults and approved by the network,” the rep stated to Variety, “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 representative then continued, “Remember, all stories, dialogue, costumes, and makeup were fully approved by network executives on two coasts,” the statement continued. “A standards and practices group read and ultimately approved every script, and programming executives reviewed and approved all episodes. In addition, every day on every set, there were always parents and caregivers and their friends watching filming and rehearsals. 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.”
The docuseries interviews past cast and crew members who worked at Nickelodeon with Schneider. These entertainers go on to recall stories of Schneider’s alleged inappropriate behavior on the set including alleged racism, sexism, and inappropriate requests.
In response to these allegations, Nickelodeon put out a statement. It read, “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. 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.”