Nickelodeon show creator and executive producer Dan Schneider is being accused of sexualized, inappropriate behavior with scripts, scenes, and child actors.
New allegations of Schneider’s inappropriate behavior during his tenure at Nickelodeon have come to light in a detailed investigation by Insider. After joining the network in 1993, Schneider went on to create cult-classic kids shows like “The Amanda Show,” “Zoey 101,” “iCarly” and “Victorious,” launching the careers of some of the biggest child actors of the 2000s, Insider continued.
In one story, “Zoey 101” lead actress Jamie Lynn Spears (sister of pop icon Britney Spears) was repeatedly squirted with candy goo, the consistency of egg whites until the shot landed directly on her forehead, dripping down over her face and mouth, the report alleges. Spears’ costar Alexa Nikolas said that Schneider started laughing hysterically while one of the male castmates muttered, “it’s like a cum shot.”
“We’re talking about a minor,” Nikolas told Insider. “I think Jamie was 13, and they’re squirting stuff on her face to make it look a certain way.” The scene made it to air, along with others that cast members and others felt were overtly sexualized given the age of the stars, Insider continued.
Footage of “Victorious” star Ariana Grande went viral in early August. The scene includes shots of Grande putting her toes in her mouth and pouring water over herself while upside down on her bed. She also grabs a potato, moaning, squeezing it with both hands and begging for it to “give up the juice.” The scene is reportedly credited to Schneider as the writer, Insider noted.
everyone keeps bringing ariana grande for stan drama against jennette and idk why. let’s not forget, ariana is a victim herself from the creepiness of dan schneider. this is why she doesn’t talk about the role of cat valentine anymore. they sexualized and infantilized her. pic.twitter.com/72MrdW2j33
— khalia. | zendaya day☀️ (@VERONASFILMS) August 11, 2022
Most of the show was “very PC, funny, silly, friendly, chill,” costar Danielle Monet told Insider. However, in one scene, she was told to eat a pickle while applying lip gloss; she told the network she felt it could be to sexual to be aired, but the network did so anyway, Insider noted.
Former star Jennette McCurdy alleged that someone at Nickelodeon offered her $300,000 to never disclose her experiences with a currently unnamed abusive boss. Insider argued that McCurdy’s revelations “exploded into widespread speculation” after she described the allegedly abusive boss as an “iCarly” “creator” who pressured her into drinking alcohol and gave her unwanted massages. (RELATED: Marvel Star, Husband Convicted Of Sex With 13-Year-Old Girl)
Nickelodeon’s former president of content and production, Russell Hicks, told Insider that “every single thing that Dan ever did on any of his shows was carefully scrutinized and approved” by programming executives and standards-and-practices groups, while parents/caregivers were always on set. At least 15 former child stars spoke in support of Schneider, Insider reported.