Nickelodeon star Lori accuses Dan Schneider of sexual misconduct
Former Nickelodeon star, Lori Beth Denberg, has accused Dan Schneider, a head writer on the series All That, of sexual misconduct. In an interview with Business Insider, Denberg detailed alleged instances where Schneider showed her "pornographic content" and initiated "phone sex when" she was a teenager. "I feel like that is the first time he preyed on me," said Denberg, recalling an incident around her 19th birthday in 1995 when Schneider allegedly showed her explicit clips on his computer.
Denberg detailed alleged misconduct by Schneider
Denberg, who starred in All That from 1994 to 1998, recounted that her relationship with Schneider turned sexual shortly after the first season of All That concluded. She stated Schneider once called her to his office. There, he brought up a conversation about her weight gain that a female producer had reportedly initiated. During this meeting, the TV producer-screenwriter started showing her pornography clips on his computer. Thereafter, Denberg recalled numerous occasions where Schneider placed her in "countless uncomfortable situations."
Schneider massaged her, fondled her breasts
Further in the interview, Denberg also claimed that they would give each other massages at his place and he fondled her breasts during these encounters. She also shared an incident where Schneider allegedly lashed out at her during a dinner with fellow writers and crew members. The actor-comedian mentioned another encounter where Schneider asked her to hide a gun under her skirt when they were pulled over by a police officer.
Schneider denied allegations, admited to early career mistakes
In response to Denberg's accusations, Schneider issued a statement calling them "wildly exaggerated and, in most cases, false." He admitted to having "made mistakes and exhibited poor judgment as a leader" at the early stages of his career but denied any wrongdoing. Schneider also noted that these allegations surfaced only a week after he filed a defamation lawsuit against Quiet on Set, accusing it of being intentionally false and misleading.
Schneider in focus due to 'Quiet on Set' docuseries
Schneider is currently making headlines—thanks to the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kid's TV, which premiered on Max in March. As Nickelodeon's "golden boy," he achieved success with multiple children's shows, including The Amanda Show, iCarly, and Zoey 101. The series accuses Schneider of putting children in compromising positions—as reported by ex-cast and crew members. Denberg's accusations aren't the first; the documentary includes claims from Jenny Kilgen, who stated that Schneider showed her porn on his computer.
