Former “All That” Star Lori Beth Denberg Speaks Out Against Dan Schneider

Former Nickelodeon star Lori Beth Denberg has come forward with allegations of inappropriate behavior against Dan Schneider, a former producer on the network’s sketch comedy show All That. Denberg, who starred on the show from 1994 to 1998, claims that Schneider engaged in a “weird, abusive friendship” with her, which she now views as inappropriate given their power imbalance.

5 Key Points

  • Lori Beth Denberg alleges that Dan Schneider discussed sexual topics with her over the phone and initiated phone sex when she was around 19 years old.
  • Denberg claims that Schneider showed her pornography multiple times, including a clip of a woman performing oral sex on a donkey, which she believes was the first time he “preyed on” her.
  • According to Denberg, she and Schneider would give each other massages at his home, and on one occasion, he allegedly fondled and put his mouth on her breasts.
  • Denberg claims she voiced concerns to Nickelodeon executives around 2000 about Schneider’s treatment of Amanda Bynes, which allegedly resulted in her being barred from the set of “The Amanda Show.”
  • Schneider denies the allegations, calling them “wildly exaggerated” and, in most cases, “false.” He also apologizes for any mistakes or poor judgment he may have exhibited in the past.

Denberg’s Allegations

In an interview with Business Insider, Lori Beth Denberg detailed her experiences with Dan Schneider during her time on “All That.” She alleged that Schneider engaged in inappropriate behavior, such as discussing sexual topics with her over the phone and initiating phone sex when she was around 19 years old. Denberg also claimed that Schneider showed her pornography multiple times, including a clip of a woman performing oral sex on a donkey, which she believes was the first instance of him “preying on” her (Morrow, 2023).

Additionally, Denberg stated that she and Schneider would give each other massages when she spent evenings at his home. On one occasion, when she was 20 or 21 years old, Schneider allegedly fondled and put his mouth on her breasts (Morrow, 2023).

Concerns Raised to Nickelodeon Executives

Denberg told Business Insider that she voiced concerns about Schneider’s treatment of Amanda Bynes to then-president of Nickelodeon Entertainment Albie Hecht and “All That” co-creator Brian Robbins around 2000. Denberg claims she noticed Bynes looking “gaunt” and raised the issue with the executives. As a result, she was allegedly barred from the set of “The Amanda Show” (Morrow, 2023).

Schneider’s Response

In a statement provided to USA TODAY, Dan Schneider denied Denberg’s allegations, calling them “wildly exaggerated” and, in most cases, “false.” He also questioned the timing of the accusations, noting that they came just a week after he filed a defamation lawsuit against the producers of the documentary “Quiet on Set,” which delved into allegations of abusive behavior behind the scenes of Nickelodeon shows (Morrow, 2023).

Schneider acknowledged that there were times, particularly early in his career when he made mistakes and exhibited poor judgment as a leader. He apologized to Denberg if he misbehaved towards her but maintained that he could not apologize for things he did not do (Morrow, 2023).

Recent Developments

The new accusations against Dan Schneider come on the heels of the release of the Investigation Discovery documentary “Quiet on Set,” which explored allegations of inappropriate behavior on the set of Schneider’s Nickelodeon shows. In the documentary, Schneider faced accusations of asking employees for massages, showing staffers pornography, and creating a toxic workplace environment (Morrow, 2023).

In response to the documentary, Schneider sued the producers for defamation, alleging that the “hit job” falsely implied he had sexually abused children who worked on his television shows. While acknowledging that two convicted sex offenders had worked on Nickelodeon shows, Schneider maintained that he did not know about their abuse, was not complicit in it, and was not a child sexual abuser himself (Morrow, 2023).

The Importance of Addressing Allegations in the Entertainment Industry

The allegations made by Lori Beth Denberg against former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider have brought renewed attention to the issue of inappropriate behavior in the entertainment industry, particularly involving minors. As more individuals come forward with their experiences, networks and production companies must take these claims seriously, investigate them thoroughly, and take appropriate action to ensure a safe and respectful work environment for all employees, especially young actors.