Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell has recently opened up about his experience as a child victim of sexual abuse in the docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV”. Bell revealed that it took several interviews with the show’s producers and a stay in rehab before he felt ready to discuss the abuse he allegedly faced at the hands of former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck.
In the docuseries, Bell shared that he endured “extensive” sexual abuse by Peck while working on Nickelodeon, and felt that participating in the series could be a healing experience for both himself and his father. However, Bell expressed frustration with Nickelodeon’s response, criticizing the lack of support he received from the network.
Three years ago, Bell pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges for sexual contact and grooming an underage fan. Despite his own legal troubles, Bell discussed the letters of support for Peck, which included actors like Ron Melendez, James Marsden, and Will Friedle. Friedle, known for his role on “Boy Meets World”, later expressed regret for writing a letter of support for Peck, along with co-star Rider Strong.
In response to the docuseries, Bell questioned the sincerity and timing of Friedle and Strong’s change of heart, as his identity was sealed when the character letters were written due to him being a minor. Despite the controversy, Bell’s former Nickelodeon co-star Josh Peck has shown support for him and the docuseries.
“Quiet on Set” premiered on ID and is available to stream on Max, shedding light on the dark side of the entertainment industry and the experiences of child actors like Drake Bell. Nickelodeon released a statement in response, stating that they investigate all formal complaints to foster a safe workplace environment.
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