Kids’ network Nickelodeon ended its ties with hit series creator and child-star maker Dan Schneider after almost 25 years, amid reports that he was “under a cloud of suspicion over the treatment of some younger stars of his shows.”
The network announced late Monday that Schneider — who is credited with discovering stars including Ariana Grande, Amanda Bynes, Jamie Lynn Spears, Kenan Thompson and Victoria Justice and creating hit shows including “iCarly,” “Drake & Josh,” “Victorious,” “Kenan & Kel” and “Henry Danger” — is out after two decades.
Social-media users have highlighted Schneider’s strange tendency to tweet pictures of the feet of his young female stars. He also posted other seemingly inappropriate videos of his actresses, including one of Grande as a teen in a skimpy outfit dousing herself with water.
A rep for Grande didn’t comment.
Schneider’s departure was first reported in a post by Hollywood blog Deadline on Monday night, which said, “I hear there had been multiple complaints of abusive behavior against Schneider filed by members of his staff.
“Along with all his success, for years Schneider had been under a cloud of suspicion over the treatment of some younger stars of his shows. Among the things that have raised eyebrows are his tweeted photos of the toes of his young female stars . . . Schneider has had well-documented temper issues for years.” A source close to Schneider strongly denied he had been inappropriate with his younger stars, but did admit of his temper, “He could be an a - - hole.”
A spokesperson for Schneider didn’t comment.
Reps for Nickelodeon declined to respond when asked if there had been any complaints against Schneider.
The network’s David Bittler described Schneider’s departure as a “mutual decision,” and other industry sources told us he took a $7 million payout to leave.
A source claimed Schneider had been the victim of false online smears, and that his exit comes amid a change of management at the network, a disagreement over the ending for “Game Shakers” and a fight over studio space.