Although she did not appear in the explosive docuseries Quiet on Set, Lori Beth Denberg is opening up about her experience with now infamous Nickelodeon producer, Dan Schneider.
While speaking to Business Insider, Denberg revealed that Schneider had sexually abused her while she was starring on the hit kids TV sketch series All That in the ‘90s.
Lori Beth Denberg recalled first experiencing such abuse in 1995, just before her 19th birthday. She said that All That just wrapped its first season and she was called into Schneider’s office. He told her he had stood up for her when a female producer discussed her weight.
Although she appreciated his support at first, Denberg said the conversation quickly turned uncomfortable. Schneider then started showing her adult films on his office computer. “I feel like that is the first time he preyed on me,” she explained.
While starring in All That for four seasons, Denberg claimed that Schneider had put her in countless uncomfortable situations. She said he had lashed out at her on set and played adult films for her on multiple occasions. At one point, he had initiated phone sex with her.
Looking back on her experience, Denberg admitted to being disturbed by the power imbalance between her and the producer.
Responding to Denberg’s claims, Schneider released a statement. “As I have previously stated, there were times, particularly in the early years of my career, that I made mistakes and exhibited poor judgment as a leader,” Schneider wrote. “If I did that with respect to Lori Beth, I sincerely apologize to her. But I cannot apologize for things I did not do.”
Lori Beth Denberg’s Claims Come Weeks After Dan Schneider Filed Defamation Lawsuit Against ‘Quiet on the Set’ Producers
Lori Beth Denberg going public about what Dan Schnieder did to her comes weeks after the infamous producer filed a defamation lawsuit against the Quiet on the Set crew.
Quiet on Set mainly focused on Schneider and how verbally abusive he was to child actors on his sets. He was at Nickelodeon from 1994 to 2018. He was pushed out of the network after he was accused of inappropriate behavior on sets. After the docuseries was released, he apologized for his behavior.
Describing the docuseries as a “hit job,” Schneider’s legal team says its producers used manipulative editing technology to create a false narrative. They also said the docuseries painted him as being in the same category as the two convicted child sex offenders featured in the docuseries.
The legal documents claimed the docuseries was created for “clickbait, rating, and views – or simply put, money.”
“Schneider had no knowledge of [the child actors’] abuse,” Dan’s legal team stated. “[He] was not complicit in the abuse, condemned the abuse once it was discovered, and, critically, was not a child sexual abuser himself.”
Schneider also admitted his flaws publicly. “There is no doubt that I was sometimes a bad leader. I am sincerely apologetic and regretful for that behavior, and I will continue to take accountability for it.”
The producer then said he has no objection to anyone highlighting his failures as a boss. However, he believed it was wrong to mislead “millions of people” to the false conclusion that he was in any way involved in “heinous acts like those committed by child predators.”
Among those listed as other defendants in the lawsuit are Warner Bros. Discovery, Maxine Productions, and Sony Pictures Television.