Daniel James Schneider is a television producer, screenwriter, and actor from the United States. He was born on January 14, 1966. Schneider devoted himself to behind-the-scenes work in production after acting in primarily supporting roles in a number of 1980s and 1990s films and TV shows. Schneider’s Bakery, which he co-founded, produced What I Like About You for The WB, as well as All That, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, Carly, Victorious, Sam & Cat, Henry Danger, Game Shakers, and The Adventures of Kid Danger for Nickelodeon. Schneider was fired by Nickelodeon in March 2018.
Schneider’s stint at Nickelodeon came to an abrupt end in March 2018, following charges of verbal abuse and questionable treatment of the young stars who starred on his shows. ViacomCBS is said to have conducted investigations, after which the two parties split ways. In response to his departure, Nickelodeon and Schneider issued a joint statement: “Nickelodeon and our long-time creative partner Dan Schneider/Bakery Schneider’s have opted not to extend the present arrangement following several discussions about future directions and prospects. Due to the completion of multiple Schneider’s Bakery initiatives, both parties agreed that now is a good moment for Nickelodeon and Schneider’s Bakery to pursue new prospects and projects ” (via Deadline).
After Schneider’s departure, what happens next?
He stayed silent about the events of 2018 and remained out of the spotlight. Now, three years later, the “iCarly” producer is speaking out again about these touchy subjects. Schneider spoke openly about his departure from Nickelodeon in a June interview with The New York Times, as well as the claims leveled against him in the wake of his leave.
During his employment at Nickelodeon, claims against Dan Schneider were made public in 2018.
Reports of possible contentious behavior on set were circulating at the time of Dan Schneider‘s departure from Nickelodeon. Schneider’s fury was said to have disrupted work, production delays, skyrocketing budgets, and “complaints of abusive behaviour” lodged against him by his team, according to a March 2018 Deadline story on the producer’s divorce from the kid-friendly TV network. A piece of Deadline’s report that stated the following was particularly troubling: “Schneider had been dogged by allegations of mistreatment of some of his shows’ younger cast members for years. His tweeted images of the toes of his young female stars are among the things that have raised eyebrows.”
According to a July 2021 Deadline report, a ViacomCBS investigation discovered Schneider allegedly cursing and throwing tantrums, as well as sending angry emails and texts to minor performers outside of working hours. He is reportedly said to have requested massages for his shoulders and neck. The producer responded to the allegations by telling The New York Times (via People) that he “never dealt with performers in any way, texting or otherwise, that should make anyone uncomfortable.”
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Dan Schneider was described as “demanding” and “vengeful” by a former coworker.
In addition to the producer for the June 2021 interview, the New York Times met with Dan Schneider’s prior associates. Arthur Gradstein, a writer and producer who collaborated with Schneider on four separate projects, reflected on the challenges they faced (also via People). According to Gradstein, “It was thrilling to be around [Schneider’s] brilliance and passion for making entertainment since he could be generous and affirming. But he was also unreasonable demanding, domineering, demeaning, and vengeful, with a flagrant disdain for workplace limits.”
Gradstein is one of a number of persons who have spoken out about Schneider and the claims against him. Several unnamed people spoke to the New York Times and confirmed previous accounts of Schneider’s alleged abuse. Fans had previously accumulated examples of feet appearing on a Schneider-produced show for strange reasons in an attempt to draw attention to a probable link between Schneider and charges of inappropriate behavior using kid actors (via Nicki Swift).
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In the aftermath of these claims, Dan Schneider’s future looks bleak.
Dan Schneider told The New York Times that he was ready to get back to work three years after leaving Nickelodeon. According to him, “I don’t want to look it up when I’m old and see an episode of one of the shows I worked on and think to myself, “Ugh,” and be disappointed in myself. I want everything I do next to be better than anything I’ve ever done before.”
Schneider claimed to be working on a comeback pilot, which he described as “ambitious and quite different” to the New York Times. According to reports, the show will be aimed at an older demographic.