Former Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice has recently spoken out about her experiences at the network in light of the investigative documentary series, "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV."
In an interview with Marie Claire for their May 2024 issue, Justice discussed her time working with producer Dan Schneider and the environment at Nickelodeon during that era.
Justice acknowledged that the documentary shed light on Schneider's ego, suggesting that it sometimes influenced his treatment of people on set, including herself.
She stated, "something that was very evident in the documentary is that Dan had a very large ego. Sometimes that ego clouded his better judgment and affected the way he treated people, and there were times I felt like I was being treated unfairly."
While Justice did not specify the exact nature of the mistreatment she experienced, she emphasized that it was never anything sexual but rather moments that she felt were in poor taste.
She clarified, "Quiet on Set detailed Schneider’s tenure at Nickelodeon and his alleged inappropriate conduct. It also covered allegations of sexual abuse, specifically from former dialogue coach Brian Peck. Justice clarified that her mistreatment was 'never anything sexual' but that certain moments 'were in poor taste.'"
The documentary delves into Schneider's tenure at Nickelodeon and allegations of inappropriate conduct, including claims of sexual abuse from former dialogue coach Brian Peck.
Schneider has since admitted to past mistakes and expressed regret for his behavior, stating that he owes some people a strong apology.
Schneider remarked, "I wish I could go back and fix that."
Despite Justice acknowledging Schneider's impact on her career and expressing gratitude for the opportunities he provided, she emphasized that her relationship with him is complex.
She stated, "I'm not condoning any of his behavior. At the end of the day, my relationship with Dan is a very complex one: I met him when I was 12 years old, and he's the person that gave me this big break."
In response to Schneider's acknowledgment of his past actions, Justice stated that she believes he recognizes his mistakes and wishes he could go back to rectify them.
Schneider himself has expressed remorse for not extending the same opportunities he received to everyone he worked with.
Justice added, "After watching his apology, I think he recognizes that he did a lot of things wrong, and I think if he could step back into a time machine, he would do a lot of things differently."
Justice's comments add to a growing conversation among former Nickelodeon stars about the network's work environment during that period.
The network, in response to the documentary, reiterated its commitment to investigating formal complaints and maintaining a safe workplace environment.
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