The following article contains a discussion about child sexual abuse.
“Drake & Josh” star Drake Bell has criticized Nickelodeon’s response to his abuse revelations in the recently released TV documentary “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.”
The series, now available in the UK on Discovery+, presents the stories of both child actors and adult crew members who suffered workplace misconduct on the set of various Nickelodeon shows produced by Dan Schneider.
Bell, who starred in the Nickelodeon series “The Amanda Show” and “Drake & Josh” as a teenager, spoke publicly for the first time in the documentary about the abuse she suffered at the hands of dialogue coach Brian Peck.
Peck was convicted in 2004 of lewd acts on a child and oral sex on a person under 16; Bell testified at Peck’s trial.
In response to the revelations in “Quiet on Set,” a Nickelodeon spokesperson said, “Now that Drake Bell has revealed his identity as a plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured. We commend and support the strength it takes to come forward.”
The broadcaster’s statement also states that it “can neither confirm nor refute allegations of behavior from decades-old productions,” but remains committed to “promoting a safe and professional work environment free from harassment or other forms of inappropriate behavior.”
Bell has since criticized that statement during an appearance on The Sarah Fraser Show, claiming Nickelodeon did not provide him with sufficient support during his ordeal.
“There’s a very well-tailored response that says, ‘Learn about his trauma,’ because they couldn’t say they didn’t know about it or didn’t know about it or what happened or anything like that,” he argued. “So I think that was a really well-tailored response, probably from a big-time lawyer in Hollywood.”
The actor continued, “I find their responses pretty hollow because, I mean, they’re still doing our shows, they’re still putting our shows on. And I have to pay for my own therapy, I have to find out what – I mean, if there was anything, if there was any truth that they really cared, there would be more than quotes on a page, obviously from a legal representative telling them exactly how to tailor a response.”
Josh Peck, Bell’s co-star from “Drake & Josh” (no relation to Brian Peck), spoke out last week, saying it had been “incredibly difficult” to “relive” his friend’s trauma.
“I have reached out to Drake privately, but I want to express my support to the survivors who have been brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world,” Peck said.
Belle also received an apology from the cast of Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide after it appeared they made fun of Bell’s trauma during the recording of a podcast.
Separate from his experience at Nickelodeon, Bell pleaded guilty to distributing material harmful to minors in connection with inappropriate text messages he sent to a teenager in 2017.
Digital Spy has reached out to Nickelodeon for a response to Bell.
While Bell’s allegations are unrelated to the workplace complaints against Dan Schneider, the former Nickelodeon producer has been accused by former employees of fostering abuse, inappropriate behavior and a toxic work environment.
In response, Schneider said in a YouTube video: “Seeing the pain in some people’s eyes … made me feel terrible, remorseful and sad.”
Peace on set was broadcast in the USA on Investigation Discovery and can be viewed in the UK on Discovery+.
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can get further information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, who are working to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, at Your website or call the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Scotland’s rape crisis The helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are asked to contact RAIN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
You might also like
