Dan Schneider has admitted some of his past behaviour is "embarrassing".
Dan Schneider opens up on 'embarrassing' allegations
The 58-year-old former Nickelodeon producer - who created the likes 'All That', 'The Amanda Show', 'Drake and Josh' and 'iCarly' - has publicly responded after new documentary series 'Quiet On Set' raised allegations of a toxic and dangerous culture on the sets of his shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Speaking to former 'iCarly' star BooG!e for The Hollywood reporter, he said: "Watching over the past few nights was very difficult.
"Me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and I regret, I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”
As well as stars of his shows opening up on their experiences, the issues raised in the series include writers accusing him of creating a toxic environment with cruel pranks.
He responded: "No writer should ever feel uncomfortable in any writers’ room, ever. Period. No excuses.
"Most TV writers, comedy writers have been in rooms, and they are aware that a lot of times there are inappropriate jokes made and inappropriate topics come up.
"But the fact that I participated in that, especially when I was leading the room, embarrasses me. I shouldn’t have done it.”
A writer in the documentary has alleged that Schneider used to instant message them and make them shout out degrading things about themselves, while it's also claimed he would demand employees give him messages.
He said: "I hate that anybody who worked with me didn’t have a good time.
"There were so many times [while watching the docuseries] that I wanted to pick up the phone and call some of those people and say, ‘I’m so sorry and let’s talk about it and I wish you had a better time and I wish I could have shown you a better experience.’”
In the documentary, there are allegations of a sexist and toxic environment in 'The Amanda Show' writer's room, while actress Alexa Nikolas discusses being in 'Zoey 101', while cast and crew from 'iCarly', 'Sam and Cat', 'Victorious' and more also appear.
The series also featured comments from Drake Bell, who suffered "extensive and brutal" abuse at the hands of Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck.
In 2004, Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14 or 15-year-old. Bell was the plaintiff but his identity as the victim was not made public at the time.
Peck spent 16 months in prison and was mandated to register as a sex offender.
In the new documentary, Drake claims that Schneider was "unaware" of the abuse.
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