Controversial Nickelodeon Producer Dan Schneider Defends Amanda Bynes Relationship

“She wanted that for herself. So she turned to her team, which included her lawyer, her agent, her manager, her publicist, me- because she included me as part of her team, thought of me that way,” Dan Schneider continued. “We supported her. She tried to get emancipated, and it ended up not working out, and she didn’t.”

Dan Schneider also revealed that he helped Amanda Bynes run away from home because he wanted what was best for her. “One night very late, well after midnight, 1 or 2 in the morning, phone rang. I answered. It was Amanda. She was upset. She was in distress. She had had some conflict with her parents, I think her father, and she called me,” the producer recalled.

“I was immediately concerned about her safety. I called someone that I knew was fairly nearby. That person was able to go and pick her up. I knew she was safe, I felt better. She ended up being taken to the police,” Dan Schneider added.

The interview follows ID’s new docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which explores alleged abuse, sexism, and racism faced by former child actors working on popular Nickelodeon shows created by Dan Schneider. The four-part docuseries features interviews with former child stars like Drake Bell, who opens up about the abuse he experienced at the hands of a Drake & Josh dialogue coach.

The series also sheds light on the toxic environment behind shows like All That, iCarly, Victorious, Sam & Cat, The Amanda Show, and Zoey 101. Amanda Bynes has been candid about her struggles with drug use and addiction, particularly her use of Adderall. She revealed that during the filming of Hairspray in 2007, she was influenced by media portraying Adderall as a “new skinny pill” for women.

While there are claims that Amanda Bynes was encouraged to take Adderall at a young age, she has not confirmed this speculation. However, rumors circulated on social media platforms, suggesting that adults around her, including her parents and Dan Schneider, may have facilitated her drug use to enhance her performance on-screen.

The Amanda Show, which premiered in 1999, ended abruptly in 2002, leaving fans puzzled as no clear explanation was provided for its cancellation. Dan Schneider, the show’s creator, occasionally appeared on the show, but in light of Amanda Bynes’ mental health struggles, fans have scrutinized his involvement.

Meanwhile, Dan Schneider has strongly refuted any allegations of deliberate misconduct. Through a spokesperson, the Nickelodeon producer asserted that every aspect of the shows under his direction underwent meticulous examination by multiple adults engaged in the production process and received clearance from the network.

The representative emphasized that if there were genuine reservations about specific scenes being inappropriate, they would have been promptly addressed and removed. “All stories, dialogue, costumes, and makeup were fully approved by network executives on two coasts,” the Dan Schneider representative said.

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which is available to stream on-demand via Max, Prime Video, and others, features several questionable moments Dan Schneider had with Amanda Bynes, including footage of the pair during a scene in a hot tub. The series also recounts instances where the producer would work with Bynes into the night instead of letting her do schoolwork with the other child actors.

Despite efforts to engage Nickelodeon in the docuseries, the network opted out. Instead, they released a statement highlighting their dedication to cultivating a safe and professional work environment while promising to investigate any formal grievances. Russell Hicks, the former president of content and production at Nickelodeon, defended Dan Schneider’s legacy.

Source: Dan Warp