Drake Bell Responds to Lori Beth Denberg’s Allegations Against Dan Schneider

Drake Bell addresses Lori Beth Denberg’s abuse allegations against Dan Schneider, stating, ‘I never experienced anything like that,’ weeks after reports.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Lori Beth Denberg recounted her unsettling experiences working with Dan Schneider. The former ‘All That’ actress claimed Schneider once called her into his office and exposed her to inappropriate material. She described an incident from 1995, around her 19th birthday, where Schneider allegedly showed her pornographic clips on his computer, including a disturbing “grand finale” scene. “I feel like that is the first time he preyed on me,” Denberg told Business Insider.

Drake Bell, known for his role in ‘Drake & Josh,’ appeared on the ‘TODAY’ show to discuss the statements made by Denberg. He clarified that he never crossed paths with Denberg and had no knowledge of the alleged incidents. “I can’t comment on any of that because I wasn’t around for any of that. I never experienced anything like that,” Bell said.

Exclusive: Drake Bell says he "never experienced anything like that," when asked about new allegations against former Nickelodeon executive Dan Schneider from actor Lori Beth Denberg, who starred in "All That." pic.twitter.com/pmDfa9BDOH

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Dan Schneider responded to the allegations with a statement to Business Insider and Variety, calling Denberg’s claims “wildly exaggerated and, in most cases, false.” Schneider acknowledged making mistakes and exhibiting poor judgment in the early years of his career but denied Denberg’s specific allegations. “If I did that with respect to Lori Beth, I sincerely apologize to her. But I cannot apologize for things I did not do,” he stated.

Schneider also pointed out a potential conflict of interest, noting that Kate Taylor, the writer of the Business Insider report, was listed as an executive producer on “Quiet on Set,” which he suggested might have influenced the timing of the allegations. Schneider had recently filed a defamation lawsuit against ‘Quiet on Set,’ accusing the show of being intentionally false and misleading. “[The fact she] would pursue allegations regarding what may have happened between adults nearly thirty years ago — only a week after I filed a defamation lawsuit — seems more than coincidental,” he said.

Denberg joined the cast of “All That” at 17 and alleged that her relationship with Schneider became sexual when she was around 19. She claimed that Schneider engaged in sexual conversations with her over the phone and initiated phone sex. Denberg also recounted staying overnight at Schneider’s house, where they would exchange massages and watch porn on his computer. In one instance, she alleged, a bet over a game of “Jeopardy!” led to Schneider touching her breasts and putting his mouth on them.

The allegations against Schneider have sparked significant controversy, with responses varying from denial to calls for accountability. As more details emerge, the entertainment industry continues to grapple with issues of power dynamics and misconduct.

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