Exposing evil in plain sight

Sexual deviants target kids. Before the internet, it was harder to reach them, but one particular demographic—child actors—has always been in the pathway of predators. 

In the explosive new streaming documentary, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, we get an inside look at the sexually abusive environment present on the sets of beloved Nickelodeon shows like You Can’t Do That On Television, and The Amanda Show.

The documentary zeroes in on legendary Nickelodeon creator Dan Schneider as a brilliant producer with a nasty temper, and flair for sexism, exploitation, and sexually inappropriate jokes. 

Schneider wrote hundreds of thinly veiled, sexually explicit jokes for kids to recite and perform for years. Quiet on Set replays multiple scenes showing Schneider’s preoccupation with feet and other clips that can only be described as porn-like. Former staff attest to Schneider’s requests for massages from female employees and affirm his “close” relationships with young stars like Amanda Bynes. 

Schenider was fixated on Bynes, a brilliant young comedian of the early aughts. A recently surfaced video showing the two in a hot tub together (when she was a minor) sparked questions about the nature of their relationship. 

But after incredible success at the network, Bynes turned to drugs and alcohol and was diagnosed with a series of mental health problems. She got multiple DUIs, was admitted to a psychiatric ward, and continues to display mentally unstable behavior today. Her story is just one tragedy told in this film. 

In the most heartbreaking story of all, Drake Bell shares the extensive sexual abuse he endured at the hands of a beloved producer. Ultimately, the producer was arrested, though multiple prominent celebrities wrote letters in support of him during the trial. Bell suffered years of drug abuse and depression as a result of the abuse, still struggling to heal 20 years later. 

Sexual predators often find their way into a child-friendly environment, where they get the most access and are asked the least questions. Consider “Jared from Subway” (in prison for having sex with minors.) He created The Jared Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to children’s health, bringing him into public schools daily. Or the sexually abusive leaders exposed at Camp Kanakuk, easily able to gain the trust of campers and get them alone. 

Quiet on Set documented three different Nickelodeon staffers working directly with kids who were arrested for sexual deviancy. Viewers may be shocked by decades of child abuse, but none of this is new. Throughout history, children were treated as second-class citizens—used, abused, and left to die if imperfect or unhelpful. It wasn’t until Christians emerged and began rallying against child abuse that things began to change. 

As one writer put it, Christianity “invented children,” bestowing upon them immeasurable worth deserving of love and equality. Even recently, children weren’t prioritized as they are today. Child labor laws weren’t even enacted in the United States until 1938—the year my grandfather was born! 

But human nature doesn’t change with laws. The same evil that created child slaves and brothels years ago exists today—sometimes on the set of a popular kids’ TV show. A background check doesn’t reveal the state of a person’s heart. The man who abused Bell had zero criminal history. 

From Shirley Temple’s first role as a 3-year-old playing a prostitute to Corey Haim’s rape allegations against Charlie Sheen on the set of Lucas, child abuse in these environments has always been rampant. 

In response, Nickelodeon said it investigates “all formal complaints” and aims to provide a safe work environment for children. These are empty words. Most kids won’t even tell their parents, let alone file a “formal complaint.” Most kids won’t know when something is inappropriate and abusive adults are often masters of charm and manipulation. Bell exposed his abuser only after another adult in his life noticed something was off about their relationship. Without that person, would that man still be abusing kids on set?

It’s still happening, and most people won’t talk. Of all the stars who have worked at Nickelodeon, only a few appear in the documentary. Notably, Ariana Grande, who is heavily featured in the film for the disgusting roles Schneider wrote for her, does not comment or appear. 

Bell is critical of Nickelodeon’s response, saying the network still “puts our shows up and I have to pay for my own therapy.” It’s hard to believe much has changed since the early 2000s. 

Jesus said it would be better to tie a millstone around your neck and drown than to harm a child. That still applies—and Judgment Day is coming.