Lori Beth Denberg has hit out at Dan Schneider, claiming that he showed her adult content and attempted to initiate phone sex with her.
Denberg, known for her role on the hit show All That, has stepped forward with the allegations against Schneider, the former producer of various popular children's programs.
Denberg's claims, detailed in an interview with Business Insider, shed further light on the dark side of the entertainment industry.
Denberg, now 48, alleges that the abuse began when she was just 19 years old, around her birthday in 1995. At that time, Schneider, who was the head writer of All That, allegedly summoned her for a meeting where he showed her explicit material on his computer.
Denberg has hit out at Schneider. Credit: Bryan Bedder/Getty
According to Denberg, the content escalated to disturbing levels, including a video depicting bestiality. "I feel like that is the first time he preyed on me," she claimed.
The actress further alleges a pattern of abusive behavior from Schneider, including playing adult material for her and initiating inappropriate sexual encounters.
Denberg describes their relationship as a "weird, abusive friendship," which turned sexual when she was around 19 years old.
Denberg recounts instances where Schneider allegedly made inappropriate comments about her body and engaged in coercive behavior, such as initiating sexual acts after a bet made during a game of Jeopardy!.
While Denberg admits she didn't initially recognize the behavior as inappropriate, she later realized the power dynamics at play. "I couldn't have been more green. I couldn't have been more vulnerable," she said.
In response to Denberg's allegations, Schneider issued a statement to PEOPLE denying the accusations, stating that they are "wildly exaggerated and, in most cases, false."
Schneider denies all allegations against him. Credit: Jeffrey Mayer/Getty
He also questioned the timing of Denberg's claims, suggesting a connection to his defamation lawsuit against the producers of Quiet on Set, a documentary series that brought to light allegations of abuse in the entertainment industry.
Denberg's decision to speak out comes in the wake of increasing attention on allegations of abuse within the entertainment industry.
In regards to the ongoing defamation lawsuit, Schneider's complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, argues that the portrayal of him in Quiet on Set amounts to a "hit job," falsely implying that he was involved in the sexual abuse of children on his shows.
"While it is indisputable that two bona fide child sexual abusers worked on Nickelodeon shows, it is likewise indisputable that Schneider had no knowledge of their abuse," the complaint states, as reported by USA TODAY.
Schneider emphasized his condemnation of any abuse and stated that he was not complicit in any wrongdoing. He expressed disappointment with the documentary, accusing it of misleading viewers and damaging his reputation.
"In their successful attempt to mislead viewers and increase ratings, they went beyond reporting the truth and falsely implied that I was involved in or facilitated horrific crimes for which actual child predators have been prosecuted and convicted," Schneider said.
He continued: "I owe it to myself, my family, and the many wonderful people involved in making these shows to set the record straight."
Dan Schneider is taking legal action against those behind Quiet on Set as he claims that they have defamed him.
The documentary, which unearthed years of alleged abuse surrounding Nickelodeon productions including Drake & Josh, The Amanda Show, Zoey 101, and iCarly, placed Dan Schneider, the creator of these iconic childhood series, under the spotlight.
Allegations of inappropriate behaviors behind the scenes and disturbing claims of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate dynamics between underage stars and crew members were brought to light by the docu-series.
Watch the trailer below:
One of the most startling revelations in the documentary was Drake Bell's disclosure of being the John Doe victim in the Brian Peck child abuse case.
Peck, a dialogue coach who worked on shows like All That and The Amanda Show, was convicted of child sexual abuse in 2004, as reported by Today.
Despite the allegations made on the show, Scheider is now taking legal action against the producers.
In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Schneider, 58, asserts that Quiet on Set's depiction of him constitutes a "hit job," suggesting he "sexually abused the children who worked on his television shows."
Schneider was the creator of many Nickelodeon shows. Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty
Schneider's complaint, obtained by USA TODAY, states: "While it is indisputable that two bona fide child sexual abusers worked on Nickelodeon shows, it is likewise indisputable that Schneider had no knowledge of their abuse, was not complicit in the abuse, condemned the abuse once it was discovered and, critically, was not a child sexual abuser himself."
"Defendants have destroyed Schneider’s reputation and legacy through the false statements and implications that Schneider is exactly that."
In a statement to USA TODAY, Schneider expressed his disappointment with the series, stating: "After seeing Quiet on Set and its trailer, and the reactions to them, I sadly have no choice but to take legal action against the people behind it."
He continued, "In their successful attempt to mislead viewers and increase ratings, they went beyond reporting the truth and falsely implied that I was involved in or facilitated horrific crimes for which actual child predators have been prosecuted and convicted."
Schneider is taking legal action against the producers of the documentary. Credit: Jeff Kravitz/Getty
He added: "I have no objection to anyone highlighting my failures as a boss, but it is wrong to mislead millions of people to the false conclusion that I was in any way involved in heinous acts like those committed by child predators.
"I owe it to myself, my family, and the many wonderful people involved in making these shows to set the record straight."
The filing added: "But one thing he is not - and the one thing that will forever mar his reputation and career both past and present - is a child sexual abuser."
Former child star Amanda Bynes has addressed a shocking TikTok video that went viral, alleging she was pregnant with Dan Schneider’s child when she was just 13.
The clip circulated widely on the platform, seemingly showing Bynes making the claim herself, but the actress has now made it clear the video is fake, according to the Daily Mail.
Schneider, the former Nickelodeon executive behind major 2000s hits like iCarly, Drake and Josh, Victorious, and The Amanda Show, has faced intense scrutiny since the release of Investigation Discovery’s 2024 docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
The series included allegations of sexism, racism, and inappropriate conduct toward young cast members.
Several actors and crew members who worked on Schneider’s shows in the 1990s and 2000s contributed their accounts.
Schneider later responded in an interview with BooG!e, who played T-Bo on iCarly, acknowledging that some of his past behavior was “embarrassing” and expressing regret.
He said he owed people “a pretty strong apology.”
Amanda Bynes pictured earlier this year. Credit: Amanda Bynes/Instagram.
Amanda Bynes Denies Claims and Calls TikTok Video Fake
The disturbing pregnancy claim gained traction after a TikTok surfaced showing Bynes in a hot tub segment with Schneider from The Amanda Show.
The video suggested Bynes herself uploaded it and accused Schneider of impregnating her at age 13.
But Bynes, now 39, told TMZ that the video is completely fabricated. She said she did not create the clip, calling it edited, altered, and “full of BS.”
She explained that the TikTok was stitched together using pieces of unrelated social media videos she had posted, manipulated to appear as though she was making allegations against Schneider.
Bynes called it an attempt to generate “lies for clickbait.”
How the Clip Was Manipulated
Bynes clarified that the footage seen in the viral TikTok came from a recent Instagram Story where she filmed her boyfriend – but the TikTok abruptly cuts to old behind-the-scenes footage of Schneider in a hot tub, taken from The Amanda Show.
Amanda Bynes during Nickelodeon's 16th Annual Kids' Choice Awards 2003. Credit: Chris Polk / FilmMagic/Getty Images.
In that old segment, Schneider tells a then-16-year-old Bynes: “I’m the executive producer and I’m the head writer.
"I actually wrote this whole conversation we’re having right now.”
The TikTok creator used this archival clip to falsely imply a connection to the fabricated claim.
The actress pointed out that the entire narrative was manufactured without her involvement.
Her response arrives at a time when social media platforms are increasingly contending with AI-edited content, manipulated videos, and widespread misinformation targeting public figures.
In March, Investigation Discovery launched a four-part documentary series that unearthed the disturbing working conditions of both child actors and adult staff on Nickelodeon.
The series alleged that the network's producer Dan Schneider as well as other prominent figures who worked there created a toxic working environment that was brimming with sexism and racism.
The biggest revelation came from Drake & Josh alum Drake Bell, who spoke out for the first time about the alleged sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of actor and since-convicted sex offender Brian Peck.
Schneider and prominent figures were accused of creating a toxic working environment. Credit: Jeff Kravitz / Getty
During a recent interview on actor Penn Badgley’s podcast, Podcrushed, the 30-year-old '7 Rings' singer spoke about her time on Victorious, created and helmed by Schneider and which aired between 2010 and 2013 for four series.
The Grammy-winning pop star was just 14 years old when she was cast to play the energetic redhead, Cat Valentine.
“We got cast and it was the best news we could hear,” she recalled. “We were young performers who just wanted to do this with our lives more than anything, and we got to and that was so beautiful.”
Watch Grande speak about abuse in the industry below:
Grande spoke about her current complex relationship with the children’s TV show, referring to its many disturbing "sexualized" scenes like how she was filmed "juicing a potato" by moving her hands over a brown potato, sucking her toes, and pouring water over her chest and head while laying upside down.
The star said that at the time, she and her fellow actors were convinced that the "cool thing" about their series was that they "pushed the envelope with our humor".
“And the innuendos were… it was, like, the cool differentiation. And I don’t know, I think it just all happened so quickly, and now looking back on some of the clips, I’m like, ‘Damn, really? Oh, s**t,'" she said.
"And the things that weren’t approved for the network were snuck onto, like, our website or whatever... I guess I’m upset, yeah,” she added.
Grande (right) starred as Cat Valentine on the hit show Victorious. Credit: Larry Busacca/KCA2010 / Getty
Despite not directly mentioning the documentary, Grande shared her thoughts about the stories of abuse in the Hollywood industry, referring to former child actors as “survivors”.
“I think the environment needs to be made safer if kids are going to be acting, and I think there should be therapists," she said. “I think parents should allowed to be wherever they want to be, and I think not only on kids’ sets."
The Grammy-winning singer added: "If anyone wants to do this, or music, or anything at this level of exposure, there should be in the contract something about therapy is mandatory twice a week or thrice a week or something like that.”
Bell (left, with Dan Schneider), who appeared in the doc, sued former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck in 2004 for sexual abuse. Credit: Charley Gallay / Getty
Following the documentary, Schneider broke his silence in a 19-minute video with iCarly’s T-Bo actor BooG!E.
The 58-year-old said that watching the docuseries was "very difficult" as he faced his "past behaviors – some of which are embarrassing and that I regret," and acknowledged that he "definitely owes some people a pretty strong apology. I hate that anybody worked for me and didn’t have a good time."
The former producer also claimed that he never hired Peck, who was convicted of sexually assaulting Bell in 2004, adding: "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."
Last month, Schneider filed a defamation legal case against the producers of a TV documentary series, claiming it has "falsely implied that I was involved in or facilitated horrific crimes for which actual child predators have been prosecuted and convicted".
Former child star Amanda Bynes has shed light on a shocking TikTok clip that circulated widely, alleging she was pregnant by producer Dan Schneider when she was just 13. The video appeared to show Bynes herself making the claim, but the actress has now clarified that the clip is completely fabricated.
Schneider, the former Nickelodeon executive behind major 2000s hits such as iCarly, Drake & Josh, Victorious and The Amanda Show, has been under heavy scrutiny since the release of the 2024 docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which included allegations of sexism, racism and misconduct toward young cast members.
Bynes denies the claim and calls the TikTok video fake
Bynes, now 39 years old, told TMZ that the clip is entirely false. She stated that she “did not create the clip,” describing it as “edited, altered, and full of BS.”
She explained that pieces of unrelated social‑media videos she had posted were manipulated to make it look as though she was making the allegations against Schneider. Bynes called the video an attempt to generate “lies for clickbait.”
Credit: Amanda Bynes / Instagram.
How the clip was manipulated
According to Bynes, the opening footage of the viral TikTok came from a recent Instagram Story in which she filmed her boyfriend. Then the video abruptly cut to old behind‑the‑scenes footage of Schneider and Bynes in a hot tub from The Amanda Show. The viral edit used that juxtaposition to create a false narrative. In the archival clip, Schneider addresses a young Bynes by saying: “I’m the executive producer and I’m the head writer. I actually wrote this whole conversation we’re having right now.” Bynes emphasized she had no involvement in the manufacture of this narrative. Her response comes as social media platforms face rising issues with AI‑edited content, manipulated videos and misinformation targeting public figures.
What this means for Schneider’s public scrutiny
The allegations against Schneider go beyond this viral clip. Quiet on Set highlighted numerous former cast and crew members from Schneider’s shows who described hostile work environments where bullying and inappropriate jokes were commonplace.
Schneider has publicly acknowledged having some past behavior that was “embarrassing” and has said he owed people “a pretty strong apology.” While this specific claim involving Bynes is false according to her, the clip reflects broader concerns about online manipulation and how public figures can be misused in viral content.
If you grew up watching Nickelodeon in the late 90s to mid-2000s then you will be familiar with iconic TV shows such as Drake & Josh, The Amanda Show, Zoey 101, and iCarly.
You may not know that all these shows we cherished during our childhood were created and produced by the same man, Dan Schneider, who is currently facing controversy due to a recent explosive documentary.
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which premiered on Investigation Discovery, took a deep dive into the disturbing working conditions of both child actors and adult staff on Nickelodeon.
Watch the Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV trailer below:
The docu-series unearthed the alleged inappropriate behaviors that went on backstage and uncovered some disturbing claims of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate dynamics between its underage stars and crew.
The directors of the bombshell documentary, Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz, revealed that they began to dig deeper into the man who created hit shows after disturbing videos began emerging online.
Dan Schneider became the center of Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. Credit: Lester Cohen / Getty
Speaking to Variety, Robertson said: "We also saw in those clips, girls appearing on Dan’s shows would receive a squirt of a viscous liquid on their face. There were a lot of questions that were circulating online certainly around the conditions under which these videos were made."
Following this, the directors came across Business Insider's article about Schneider's prominent influence at Nickelodeon so they partnered with journalist Kate Taylor and explored further.
Drake Bell (left) starred in Drake & Josh with Josh Peck. Credit: Jeffrey Mayer / Getty
This is what we know from the documentary, which aired from March 17-18.
Drake Bell came forward with the claim that he's the John Doe victim in Brian Peck’s child abuse case.
One of the most shocking reveals in the documentary was when the 37-year-old actor disclosed himself as the John Doe victim in the Brian Peck child abuse case.
Back in 2004, the dialogue coach who worked under TV shows such as All That and The Amanda Show was sentenced to 16 months in prison for child sexual abuse, as reported by Today.
The now-63-year-old pled no contest to two charges: lewd act upon a child 14 or 15 by a person 10 years older and oral copulation of a person under 16. He has served more than a year in jail and was made to register as a sex offender following his conviction.
During the docu-series, Bell stated for the first time publicly that the dialogue coach sexually abused him, telling Quiet On Set: "I've never talked about this outside of therapy," per Daily Mail.
The former child star did not want to delve into detail on camera about his abuse but said that it was "extensive and it got pretty brutal," adding: "Why don't you think of the worst stuff someone can do to somebody as a sexual assault and that'll answer your question. I don't know how else to put it."
Bell also shared that he was stunned to find that several actors and entertainment industry insiders had submitted letters of support for Peck before his sentencing.
Among the recognizable names that praised Peck's character were Ron Melendez, Alan Thicke, James Marsden, Rider Strong, Will Friedle, and Bell’s former The Amanda Show co-star Taran Killam, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Brian Peck was sentenced to prison in 2004. Credit: Albert L. Ortega / Getty
Inappropriate jokes on set
The series also explored the disturbing resurfaced scenes on Nickelodeon shows, including an incident with a young Ariana Grande - who was featured on Victorious - and how she tried to "juice a potato" by moving her hands over a brown potato.
Other clips of her sucking her toes, and pouring water over her chest and head while laying upside down on a bed were included in the documentary.
Leon Frierson, a former All That cast member, also opened up about being cast as "Nose Boy" and having to wear a large brown prosthetic nose on his face and shoulders, which seemed to resemble male genitals.
"Frankly, it was just uncomfortable," the 37-year-old shared. "But I always did my best to be a trooper, never complained. We knew being close to Dan could mean an extra level of success. It was important to be on his good side, and he made it known who was on his good side."
Furthermore, the documentary delved into the subtext behind the name of Penelope Taynt - Amanda Bynes' alter ego character on The Amanda Show.
It was reported that the name was a joke about the taint, a vernacular for the part of the body between the anus and the genitals. Writers in the documentary alleged that Schneider asked them to "keep it a secret" from Nickelodeon executives.
Bynes played a character called Penelope Taynt. Credit: Jeffrey Mayer / Getty
Racism and fatphobia on set:
Bryan Christopher Hearne is another star from the All That cast featured in the program. The 35-year-old actor portrayed the youngest rapper of all time, "Lil Fetus," on the TV show and was tasked with wearing a skintight bodysuit.
Hearne claimed that he overheard someone on the filming set say that the "skin tone [of the bodysuit] should be charcoal," and confessed that the remark made him "teary-eyed," but he was too afraid to tell his mother Tracey Browne.
"I became an oddball," he admitted in an interview, per The Mirror, while his mom appeared in the documentary and said that her son was being asked to play Black stereotypes.
Hearne claimed Schneider "had a nicer relationship with some of the other white kids," adding: "My time on Nickelodeon played a big part in how I dealt and still deal with racial issues."
His co-star, Katrina Johnson, also featured in the series and said that she was body-shamed by producers who called her parents and allegedly said: "'Hey, Katrina's getting too fat. We already have a fat one, she can't be the fat one."
"I mean, that stuck with me. 'You can't be the fat one.' I still hear those words in my head to this day," she shared, revealing that when she grew up, she was "edged out...by a younger version of me."
Convicted sex offenders on set:
The documentary spotlighted Jason Michael Handy, another convicted sex offender on the set of Nickelodeon shows.
The mother of a former Amanda Show child actor, listed only as MJ in the documentary, spoke out about her daughter Brandi's exposure to the former production assistant.
She revealed that Brandi received a disturbing photo of Handy naked and masturbating, and contemplated on whether to report the incident to the police. But MJ was afraid they would think she was a "bad parent," so instead, she kept Brandi away from Handy, and made sure she never returned to show business.
In 2003, authorities searched Handy's home and found sexually exploitative images of children, and a journal in which he describes himself as a "pedophile, full-blown," per the documentary.
He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2004 after pleading no contest to two felony counts involving two minors, one of whom was Brandi.
Drake Bell and Dan Schneider. Credit: Charley Gallay / Getty
Following the documentary, Schneider broke his silence in a 19-minute long video with iCarly’s T-Bo actor BooG!E.
The 58-year-old producer said that watching the documentary was "very difficult" as he faced his "past behaviors – some of which are embarrassing and that I regret," and acknowledged that he "definitely owes some people a pretty strong apology. I hate that anybody worked for me and didn’t have a good time."
Watch Schneider's interview below:
Schneider directly addressed claims that he asked people to give him massages on set, saying: "It was wrong. It was wrong that I ever put anyone in that position. It was wrong to do. I’d never do it today. I’m embarrassed that I did it then. I apologize to anybody that I ever put in that situation."
He admitted that he "would let the pressure of doing 40 episodes or more a year... get to me, which a good boss should never ever do," adding: "I would snap at people sometimes. I would be snarky when I could have given them a nicer answer. I would not give people the time they needed. I would be in too big a hurry to get onto the next thing I had to do."
"Watching that [documentary], there were so many times I wanted to pick up the phone and call some of those people and say 'I’m so sorry' and 'let’s talk about it,'" he said, stating that "seeing the hurt in some people’s eyes... made me feel awful and regretful and sorry".
The former producer claimed in the interview that he never hired Peck, who was convicted of sexually assaulting Bell in 2004.
"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," he said, adding that he told Bell: "I’m here for you."
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