Drake Bell speaks out about the abuse he allegedly suffered that led to the conviction of his dialogue coach Brian Peck, who is a registered sex offender.
On Tuesday, Investigation Discovery released a teaser for its upcoming docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.” The series will expose “the toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most iconic children’s shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s” that Nickelodeon aired under the leadership of former producer Dan Schneider, according to a press release.
At the end of the short clip, Bell sits down in the interview chair. According to the press release, this is the first time the “Drake and Josh” star has identified himself as a victim of Peck’s alleged abuse, which led to his conviction in 2004.
USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Peck for comment.
According to a press release from the Los Angeles Police Department, Peck was arrested in August 2003 for lewd acts on a child. The arrest stemmed from a 2001 incident in which the actor allegedly sexually molested a child he was training over a six-month period.
Bell, who was appearing as a sketch actress on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show,” was probably 14 or 15 years old at the time of the incident.
Additional Nickelodeon stars and staff, including “All That” star Giovonnie Samuels, “Zoey 101” star Alexa Nikolas, “Double Dare” host Marc Summers, “All That” director Virgil Fabian and more, will appear in the docuseries to talk about abuse, sexism and racism, according to a press release.
“Quiet on Set” airs two nights, March 17 and 18, starting at 9 p.m. ET on ID.
The stars of “Life and Me” recently expressed their “shame” for supporting Brian Peck in court
Last month, “Life and Me” stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong accused Peck of coaching them as an adult guest star on the show. The acting coach appeared in two credited episodes, as an extra in Season 6 and as the character “Ookie” in Season 7.
Friedle and Strong also spoke about their “shame” of initially supporting Peck in court during the 2003 case.
When Peck was arrested in 2003, Friedle and Strong said on the “Pod Meets World” podcast that he portrayed his legal troubles as an incident in which he was abused by the minor he was sexually involved with. Friedle even recalled going to court to support Peck and other child stars the actor knew.
“Unfortunately, this is very common,” says Jim Struve, executive director of Men Healing, an organization that offers help to men and boys who have been sexually abused. “In fact, most people know their abuser. … They are loyal, they have an association with the person, they have a history with them.”
For men and boys in particular, Struve previously told USA TODAY, going public with allegations of grooming or abuse is a huge challenge. Our culture tends not to view men as potential victims of sexual misconduct, he said, although that’s completely inaccurate; researchers have found that at least one in six men have experienced sexual abuse or assault.
Drake Bell previously pleaded guilty to child endangerment
Bell’s revelation comes three years after he pleaded guilty to child endangerment after being charged with sexual contact and soliciting relationships with an underage admirer. The victim spoke at length in court about the damage Bell has caused to her life, saying he began hitting on her when she was 12. She said she initially felt loved and protected by him in online chats and his messages became “obviously sexual” after she turned 15. She said his comments made her uncomfortable but she felt trapped because she “idolised” Bell.
In July 2021, he was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service in a Cleveland court.
“Although it is often true that male sex offenders have themselves been victims of sexual assault in the past, most male victims do NOT become sex offenders,” Men Healing states in its FAQ section.
Previous: Drake Bell has been found safe and sound and speaks out after being classified as “missing” by police
Bell addressed his conviction in a video posted to Instagram in September 2021. He called the allegations that he sent sexually explicit photos “completely false and inaccurate” and said he had agreed to a deal to resolve the matter “quickly.”
In the video, the former Nickelodeon star acknowledged that his treatment of her was “reckless and irresponsible,” but claimed he was “unaware” of her age and only communicated with her via text messages – without any physical contact.
Bell, also a singer, began acting as a child but rose to stardom as a teenager on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” and later on “Drake & Josh,” which premiered on the network in January 2004. The last episode aired in September 2007. Bell and co-star Josh Peck also starred in two “Drake & Josh” movies.
Drake Bell speaks out against conviction for child endangerment: “I owe you an explanation”
If you are a victim of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org).
MenHealing provides resources and services for adult men who have been sexually abused in childhood or as adults. Visit the website for more information. or follow MenHealing on Facebook, Instagram or On Twitter.
Contributors: Jenna Ryu, Edward Segarra, Charles Trepany, USA TODAY; Mark Gillispie, Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Drake Bell speaks out about alleged sexual abuse at Nickelodeon in new documentary
