Dan Schneider's ex-assistant slams the 'toxic' Nickelodeon creator as a 'f***ing a**hole' and 'psychological tormenter' - claiming stress of working for him left her suffering from a HEART condition - as bombshell doc exposes his horrifying on-set 'abuse'

Dan Schneider's former assistant has furiously slammed him as a 'f***ing a**hole' - claiming he left her suffering from heart issues as a result of his 'psychological torment'.

Amy Berg took to X, formerly Twitter, to write a lengthy statement in the wake of the recent documentary titled Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV - which made shocking claims about the 'toxic environment' at Nickelodeon.

She branded Schneider as a 'psychological tormenter' and a 'manipulator' before claiming his treatment caused her to suffer panic attacks, anxiety, and develop a 'heart arrhythmia.'

The documentary, which aired at the weekend, set out to 'pull back the curtain on an empire, built by creator Dan Schneider, that had an undeniable grip on popular culture' in the 1990s and early 2000s - as it exposed the hidden underbelly of the network.

Dan Schneider's former assistant Amy Berg has leveled some horrifying accusations against the Nickelodeon creator in the wake of the release of bombshell documentary Quiet on Set 

She branded Schneider as a 'psychological tormenter' and a 'manipulator' before claiming his treatment caused her to suffer panic attacks, anxiety and develop a 'heart arrhythmia'

The documentary, which aired at the weekend, set out to 'pull back the curtain on an empire, built by creator Dan Schneider' (pictured with Ariana Grande)

Writer Amy, who is based in Los Angeles, California, has since issued a full statement which read: 'Awww, here it goes... 

'So apparently there's an expose running right now called Quiet On Set about the toxicity of the Dan Schneider era on Nickelodeon. I don't talk much about my time there, but my VERY first job in town was as Dan's assistant.

'I worked with him for less than a year. He left Nickelodeon to create a show on UPN while I stayed and became a writer on the final seasons of Kenan & Kel and All That under the leadership of extraordinary humans Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert.

'During my year with Dan, I wasn't aware of any physically inappropriate behavior.'

It continued: 'What I can confirm, however, is that he was a f***ing a**hole. A psychological tormenter. He introduced me to panic attacks and the stress of working for him caused me to develop a significant heart arrhythmia. 

'I eventually had surgery [mostly] to correct the issue, but by that point I'd lost all of my 20s. He stole those years from me.

'While I don't think my career trajectory was affected by my time with him, my personal life undoubtedly was. I became a shut-in due to the fear of having a medical crisis away from home.

'I was unable to cultivate relationships or nurture friendships. And to this day I carry with me an anxiety disorder that directly rears its head when faced with other manipulators. Fortunately I've only twice been in bad situations in my career where this trauma was reignited.'

Writer Amy, who is based in Los Angeles, California, slammed Schneider as a 'f***ing a**hole' - claiming he left her suffering from heart issues as a result of his behavior

Schneider, who was described as 'Nickelodeon's golden boy,' is said to have 'launched the careers of child actors who became major stars' including Miranda Cosgrove, Jamie Lynn Spears and Ariana Grande 

Amy concluded: 'All that said, I will not be watching Quiet On Set. I've no interest in reliving anything, nor do I want to be in a situation where I'd feel inclined to defend Dan in any way.'

Schneider, who was described as 'Nickelodeon's golden boy,' is said to have 'launched the careers of child actors who became major stars' including Miranda Cosgrove, Jamie Lynn Spears and Ariana Grande.

But he has since been flooded with allegations before being sued over accusations of gender discrimination, hostile work environment and harassment - many of which were divulged in the new documentary.

It wasted little time in dishing that the period of the 1990s and 2000s 'marked one of the darkest chapters,' writer Scaachi Koul said.

Christy Stratton and Jenny Kilgen were hired as co-writers for The Amanda Show and split a single salary - as the network got 'two writers for the price of one.'

'It was early on when we first started that Dan said he didn't think women were funny,' Christy said.

'He had fostered this very casual, fun atmosphere but I felt that Dan could be very volatile and could turn any moment. I was scared.'

She said that staff were left feeling 'paranoid and uncomfortable,' concluding: 'Working for Dan was like being in an abusive relationship.'

Jenny also dished on having a similar experience, sharing that he 'didn't really value women in the writers' room.'

Christy Stratton, who was hired as a co-writer for The Amanda Show, said: 'Working for Dan was like being in an abusive relationship'

But that was not all because, dishing on the depths of the inappropriate behavior at the channel, she claimed: 'Dan was showing pornography on his computer screen. He asked me several time to massage him in the writers' room and in the studio...

'You always felt like disagreeing with Dan or standing up for yourself could result in getting fired. 

'One of the worst, we were in the writers' room and Christy was talking about high school which is relevant because we are writing for a young girl. 

'And Dan just said: "You know what would be funny? If you leaned over the table and acted like you were being sodomized and told that story about high school."'

Schneider left Nickelodeon in 2018 

Jenny said that Christy had initially said no but Dan kept insisting and 'she couldn't get out of it.'

'So she just leaned over the table and did what he asked her to do. It was upsetting to watch because I knew Christy at this point and I didn't feel at all comfortable complaining to him.'

She concluded: 'It was probably the wrongest thing I have ever seen happen to a woman in a professional environment ever.'

Christy herself declined to talk about the incident but remarked that she felt sorry for her former self as she was just a young woman at the time. 

Ultimately, after quitting her role at the network, Jenny decided to sue Dan because she 'didn't want it to happen to other women in the future.'

'I hired a lawyer and started blowing whistles. My lawyer filed complaints against the production company for gender discrimination, hostile work environment, harassment - and in response they did an internal investigation and they settled.

'But it had a lasting impact on my career... To learn that it didn't stop and that it was all for nothing.'

Scaachi concluded: 'How safe can any kids be in that environment if that's how the adult women are being treated behind the scenes?' 

The program stated that Dan issued a statement claiming he 'never once considered gender while hiring.' 

Among the 'disturbing' scenes that 'sexualized' child stars - including Ariana Grande who featured in scenes sticking her hand down her throat, putting her toes in her mouth, and talking about being 'soaking wet' at the age of 16 

Other parts also showed Ariana trying to get juice from a potato and attempting to drink water upside down in a provocative position - which resulted in it spilling all over her head and chest 

A spokesperson for previously Nickelodeon told DailyMail.com of the alleged behaviors on past production sets: 'Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct. 

'Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.'

Elsewhere, the documentary explained that Nickelodeon had raised eyebrows under Schneider's leadership with some of its shows that were 'full of uncomfortable sketches.'

Among them were 'disturbing' scenes that 'sexualized' child stars - including Ariana Grande who featured in scenes sticking her hand down her throat, putting her toes in her mouth, and talking about being 'soaking wet' at the age of 16.

Other parts also showed Ariana trying to get juice from a potato - which involved her squeezing it as hard as possible and letting out loud moaning noises - and attempting to drink water upside down in a provocative position - which resulted in it spilling all over her head and chest. 

'It was clear that there was a permissibility around these sexualized jokes with children,' commentators in the documentary shared.

Another recently resurfaced clip being circulated online shows Schneider in a hot tub with an underage Amanda Bynes during a Nickelodeon sketch.

The scene in question - which is understood to have been filmed in 2002, when Bynes was around the age of 16 - shows Schneider sitting next to a bikini-clad Bynes for the skit, which he wrote himself, with commentators branding it as 'very uncomfortable.'

Another recently resurfaced clip being circulated online shows Schneider in a hot tub with an underage Amanda Bynes during a Nickelodeon sketch 

The scene in question shows Schneider sitting next to a bikini-clad Bynes for the skit, which he wrote himself, with commentators branding it as 'very uncomfortable' 

Jennette McCurdy, who found fame on iCarly, detailed her traumatic childhood in her best-selling memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died which was released in August 2022.

She also spoke in detail about her time on Nickelodeon, and alleged that she was subjected to inappropriate behavior from an unnamed staffer.

'I feel like The Creator has two distinct sides. One is generous and over-the-top complimentary... The other side is mean-spirited, controlling and terrifying,' Jenette wrote. 

Jennette claimed she was required to her pose in swimsuits and offered alcohol from someone she referred to as 'The Creator' during her time on iCarly, which first aired when she was 15 - in September 2007 - and concluded when she was age 20 - in November 2012.

'My whole childhood and adolescence were very exploited,' she told the New York Times, while discussing the book. 'It still gives my nervous system a reaction to say it.

'There were cases where people had the best intentions and maybe didn’t know what they were doing. And also cases where they did - they knew exactly what they were doing.'

She also claimed that she was 'terrified of being looked at as a sexual being' and that 'The Creator' once gave her a shoulder massage against her wishes.

Many people have since speculated that she was referring to Schneider who left Nickelodeon in 2018.

At the time, he said he was parting ways to pursue 'other opportunities and projects,' however, the New York Times reported in 2021 that the network cut ties from him due to evidence of 'verbal abuse' towards colleagues.

Jennette McCurdy, who found fame on iCarly, detailed her traumatic childhood in her best-selling memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died which was released in August 2022 

A statement from Dan Schneider issued to the documentary stated: 'Everything that happened on the shows I ran was carefully scrutinized by dozens of involved adults.

'All stories, dialogue, costumes and makeup were fully approved by network executives on two coasts.

'A standard and practices group read and ultimately approved every script, and programming executives reviewed and approved all episodes.

'In addition, every day on every set, there were always parents and caregivers and their friends watching us rehearse and film.'

In light of the ID docuseries, a spokesperson for Schneider also told Entertainment Weekly: 'Dan cared about the kids on his shows even when sometimes their own families unfortunately did not. He understood what they were going through and he was their biggest champion. 

'The fact is many of the kids on these shows are put in the untenable position of becoming the breadwinner for their family and the pressure that comes along with that.'

The statement continued: 'Add on top of that the difficulties of growing up and having to do so under the spotlight while working a demanding job, all as a child. 

'That is why there are many levels of standards, executives, lawyers, teachers and parents everywhere, all the time, on every set, every day. However, it is still a hard place to be a kid and nobody knew that better than Dan.'

Nickelodeon said it 'investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace... We have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standard and the expectations of our audience.' 

The documentary also revealed that three members of staff were charged over child sex abuse to varying degrees - as Drake Bell spoke for the first time about being abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck who was described as 'very much one of the cogs in the Dan Schneider machine.'