Drake Bell Reveals He Was Repeatedly Sexually Assaulted During His Time On Nickelodeon (Video)
Drake Bell has revealed that he was repeatedly sexually assaulted during his time working as a child actor on Nickelodeon.
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Hereâs What Drake Bell Revealed During âQuiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TVâ
According to PEOPLE, Bell appeared on the four-part docuseries âQuiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TVâ which aired on Sunday, March 17, and Monday, March 18. The docuseries reportedly explores the âtoxic and dangerous cultureâ of âthe most iconic childrenâs shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s.â
During his appearance, Bell explained that he began acting on Nickelodeonâs âThe Amanda Showâ in 1999. Around that time, he was 13 years old.
The following year, he met dialogue coach Brian Peck. Peck allegedly invited Bell to his home for acting lessons.
Bellâs father, who also acted as his manager, reportedly addressed his concern about this to Nickelodeon producers. However, he was eventually âostracizedâ from the crew and âbacked off.â
The outlet reports that a âriftâ developed between Bell and his dad. Peck would then accompany Bell to his acting auditions, and the child would even spend nights at Peckâs home.
When Bell was 15, the dynamic between him and Peck would forever change.
âI was sleeping on the couch where I usually sleep and⊠I woke up to him⊠I opened my eyes and I woke up and he was⊠he was sexually assaulting me,â Bell explained during the docuseries. âAnd I froze, and was in complete shock and had no idea what to do or how to react. And I had no idea how to get out of the situation.
Bell explained that the circumstances of his abuse by Peck got worse.
âYou know anytime I had an audition or anytime I needed to work on dialogue or anything, I somehow ended up back at Brianâs house. And it just got worse, and worse, and worse, and worse, and I was just trapped. I had no way out. The abuse was extensive and it got pretty brutal,â he explained, per PEOPLE.
According to the outlet, Bell revealed that he often looks back at that time of his life and wonders how he âsurvived.â Additionally, he explained that although he âexperienced a lot of great thingsâ during his time as a child actor, it was âovershadowed and ruinedâ by what he was âdealing with on the inside.â
Social Media Shares Support
Social media users shared their support for Bell and reactions to his revelation in The Shade Roomâs comment section.
Instagram user zarialinton wrote, âThis documentary hits way deeper when you grew up watching all of these shows and not knowing what was happening to these children. Itâs disgusting and sad.â
While Instagram user @korporate00 added, âYou never know what a person goinâ through fr!â
Instagram user @thesomaliashow wrote, âThese poor child stars were just completely taken advantage of. Itâs really sad.â
While Instagram user @ashley.brionne added, âI believe him! Glad heâs coming out and speaking his truth. Praying heâs ok đąâ
Instagram user @dangerbethename wrote, âGod wrap your arms around this man and all victimsâ€â
Additional Nickelodeon Stars & Execs React To The Actorâs Revelation
According to PEOPLE, Peck spent 16 months in prison and was mandated to register as a sex offender after charges of âoral copulation with a minor under 16â and âperforming a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-oldâ were brought against him.
The outlet notes that Bell was the victim behind those charges. However, at the time, his identity was not publicly revealed.
Furthermore, PEOPLE reports that Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider, who has previously been accused of sexualizing child actors, offered support to Bell after he was made aware of the sexual assault.
USA Today adds that a spokesperson for Schnieder released a statement after the documentary aired, addressing allegations against him.
âEverything that happened on the shows Dan ran was carefully scrutinized by dozens of involved adults, and approved by the network. Had there been any scenes or outfits that were inappropriate in any way, they would have been flagged and blocked by this multilayered scrutiny,â the statement reads. ââŠIf there was an actual problem with the scenes that some people, now years later are âsexualizing,â they would be taken down, but they are not, they are aired constantly all over the world today still, enjoyed by both kids and parents.â
Producers for Nickelodeon have also released a statement, per PEOPLE.
âNow that Drake Bell had disclosed his identity as the plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength required to come forward.â
However, not all former Nickelodeon actors have seemingly shown the best support for Bell coming forward. On Tuesday, March 19, footage went viral of âNeds Declassifiedâ star Devon Werkheiser and fellow castmates laughing while speaking about the allegations.
The cast of Nedâs Declassified react to Dan Schneider and Nickelodeon allegations on TikTok Live following the âQuiet On Setâ documentary.
pic.twitter.com/o6KyLUOCMT
â Pop Base (@PopBase) March 19, 2024
In response, Bell took to Twitter to share words for the cast.
âNedâs DeclasslessâŠthis is wildâŠlaugh it up guysâŠlaugh it upâŠâGive me your h*les?!!â Really?!â
Nedâs DeclasslessâŠthis is wildâŠlaugh it up guysâŠlaugh it upâŠâGive me your h*les?!!â Really?! https://t.co/pD2ZYdd2gG
â DrakeBell.ethá”á” (@DrakeBell) March 19, 2024
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