As the public processes allegations made in the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, former child actor Alexa Nikolas has spoken up about Dan Schneider, the boss who allegedly created and tolerated toxic working conditions.
The much-talked-about doc looks at misconduct involving child actors, specifically at Nickelodeon and particularly on shows created by Dan Schneider, whose series dominated the network in the mid-aughts. Schneider has long been a subject of various rumors and allegations; an exposé dropped in 2022, and he is more or less called out by name as the perpetrator of some truly disturbing behaviors in Jennette McCurdy’s memoir. His alleged behavior ranged from writing inappropriate scenes to questionable physical interactions and a bullying. There were also allegations of racism and sexism. His former assistant confirmed that he was a “psychological tormentor” in a post. One of Schneider’s creations was Zoey 101, on which Nikolas was a principal cast member.
Alexa Nikolas (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)Jeffrey Mayer
After Quiet on Set aired, Schneider recorded a 19-minute video interview with a former iCarly star, which was then sent to The Hollywood Reporter for publication (if that seems odd, it is). In the video, Schneider apologizes for his temperament at work and says that many of the jokes he wrote or made then he would not write or make now. He confirms that he did, and should not have, asked for massages from cast members. “I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology,” says Schneider.
He also reveals anecdotes that paint him in a favorable light during some child actors’ trying times, including Amanda Bynes separating from her parents, and Drake Bell’s sexual assault case against voice coach Brian Peck, whom Schneider insists he did not hire.
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