Nickelodeon Show Creator Suspended Due to Claims of Sexual Harassment

In a story first reported by Cartoon Brew, Nickelodeon has suspended veteran animator Chris Savino amid a storm of sexual harassment allegations.

Savino, who worked his way up through the company on shows like The Powerpuff Girls and Rocko’s Modern Life, created The Loud House in 2016. The show is two seasons in with plans for a third and a film in 2020, and it made (much more positive) headlines when it introduced the first same-sex couple in a Nickelodeon show last year.

But now, as many as 12 different women have come forward to the company, alleging that Savino used his position of power within the company to make unwelcome sexual advances. One account, as reported by Cartoon Brew, involved Savino obtaining a female animator’s personal contact information under the guise of helping her with a creative project. He then sent her lewd images and messages, and when she made it clear she wasn’t interested, her project was rejected.

Viacom, Nickelodeon’s parent company, had this to say in a statement (via Deadline):

“Viacom is committed to the safety and well-being of our employees, and to fostering a workplace free from harassment,” the company said. “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on specific employee matters, but we take all allegations of this nature very seriously, investigate them thoroughly and take any necessary actions as a result.”

It is unclear how this will affect The Loud House, as Viacom is keeping their investigation close to the chest. The show will almost certainly continue, however, as it has been a huge ratings hit for Nickelodeon.