Former kids TV producer Dan Schneider has expressed his willingness to censor certain jokes from Nickelodeon cult classics he created in the 1990s and 2000s that are now deemed offensive by viewers. Schneider defended the jokes, stating they were originally intended for a kid audience and were meant to be humorous for children.
Following the release of the docuseries 'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,' which delved into toxic environment claims on sets run by Schneider, he issued an apology video on March 19. The series highlighted allegations that Schneider's scripts sexualized young actors like Ariana Grande, Amanda Bynes, and Jamie Lynn Spears during their time on his shows.
While Schneider acknowledged that some jokes may now be viewed differently by adults, he believes they should be removed from reruns to avoid causing discomfort. However, Nickelodeon, with whom Schneider parted ways in 2018, has not responded to his call for edits.
Specific episodes of shows like 'Victorious' and 'Zoey 101' have been singled out for potential edits, with Schneider's representatives pointing to certain episodes that may contain controversial content. Despite the controversy, some episodes remain available on various streaming platforms.
Former cast members have also spoken out about their experiences on Schneider's shows, with claims of inappropriate wardrobe choices and lack of oversight in content approval. The closure of 'The Slap' website, which featured additional content related to Nickelodeon series, coincided with the network cutting ties with Schneider.
While Schneider's team maintains that all content went through rigorous approval processes, sources at Nickelodeon suggest that certain material was uploaded without proper review. The controversy surrounding Schneider's past work continues to spark discussions online, with fans and critics reevaluating the content of his shows in light of current perspectives.
