Dan Schneider Sues Quiet on Set Producers Alleging Defamation, Calls Docuseries ‘Manipulative’ and a ‘Hit Job’

Dan Schneider is taking legal action against the producers of the Investigation Discovery series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.

The former Nickelodeon producer filed a defamation lawsuit against the documentary series producers on Wednesday, May 1, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE. The defendants listed are Warner Bros. Discovery, Maxine Productions and Sony Pictures Television.

In the filing, Schneider claims the Quiet on Set’s producers and creators falsely implied he sexually abused Nickelodeon’s child actors. The lawsuit alleges that the docuseries created a false impression of Schneider through a “manipulative mix of editing, speech, and imagery.”

Additionally, Schneider claims the series’ producers attempted to associate the Nickelodeon showrunner with two convicted child sex offenders — Brian Peck and Jason Handy.

“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,” the filing reads.

“Recently, the docuseries Quiet on Set highlighted mistakes I made and poor judgment I exhibited during my time at Nickelodeon, most of which happened decades ago during my early career as a producer, working on shows for Tollin/Robbins Productions,” Schneider, 58, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “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.”

“However, 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,” the statement 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 concluded, “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.”