Not long after former game show host Marc Summers publicly criticized the Silence on set filmmakers for allegedly ambushing her during her interview, directors Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz have officially addressed their claims.
“We are clear with each participant about the nature of our projects,” the filmmakers said in a statement to IndieWire.
Summers recently spoke out about his experience being interviewed for the docu-series, stating that he didn’t know it would address allegations about the toxic work environment behind the scenes.
“They ambushed me. “They never told me what this documentary was really about,” she said during an interview broadcast this morning on Elvis Durán and the morning show. “And then they showed me a video of something that I couldn’t believe was on Nickelodeon. And I said, ‘Well, let’s stop the tape right here.’ What are we doing?'”
Summers, who hosted the ’80s game show Double challengecan be seen in Silence on set talking about the “wonderful” time he spent working with the network. But, she claims, this part of the interview occurred before the filmmakers “did a bait-and-switch.”
“I left. I got a phone call about six weeks ago saying you were totally out of the program. And I said, ‘Cool.’ Then they called me about four weeks ago and said, ‘Well, you’re in this, but you’re only in the first part because you talked about the positive things about Nickelodeon,'” Summers said.
He continued: “What they didn’t tell me, and what they lied to me about, was the fact that they put that other thing where they had the camera pointed at me when they ambushed me. And so now we get into a whole situation about who is unethical.”
He seemed concerned that his interview would make it seem like he knew Dan Schneider, accused of harassing others at Nickelodeon, or former Nick employees who were outed as registered sex offenders.
“Those people came later and took over our studios. “I never met the man, I have no idea about any of that stuff,” he said. “I mean, I know Kenan [Thompson]ofKenan and Kel, because we have done things together. But as far as what happened on that show with any of those people, I never met any of them. Did not know anybody”.
Summers’ time at Nickelodeon ended in 1993, although he later returned as a host when Double challenge it was restarted in 2018.
Amid his outrage over the interview, Summers said he hoped to speak to the people involved in a phone call later today.
An extra episode ofSilence on setis scheduled to premiere this Sunday (April 7) on ID and will air on Max at 8/7c.
If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or online atLLUVIA.org.
