In recent years, some of the stars of Nickelodeon shows, like Alexa Nikolas and Jenette McCurdy, have spoken out about various shady things they encountered while working on series like Zoey 101 And icarly with Dan Schneider. But recently, Drake Bell’s statements were shocking, who spoke about the sexual abuse he suffered while on the children’s television network..
For some time, the former star of Drake and Josh He had more to talk about his legal problems and controversies than his work in music or television.. Like many of the former actors who appeared in the channel’s most famous and popular productions, He carries with him many terrible experiences that happened to him when he was one of the faces of the company.
Drake Bell spoke out for the first time about the sexual abuse he suffered during his early years at Nickelodeon
It turned out that recently Drake Bell appeared in Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Children’s Televisionan Investigation Discovery documentary that talks about exactly that toxic workplaces, the situation of child actors in the United States and takes up the statements of several personalities of the channel. There, confessed that she suffered sexual abuse and assault while working on Nickelodeon’s hit television shows.
One of the most shocking things Bell confessed while participating in the documentary was this spoke out for the first time about her story of abuse at the hands of Brian Peckhis former dialogue trainer, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a child actor at the station in 2004. A case that gave people something to talk about and that was kept somewhat secret for years to avoid further controversy, which was reopened some time later with the allegations. against Dan Schneider.
In accordance with The Hollywood ReporterThe third episode of the documentary focuses on Drake Bell and vividly explains how he allegedly suffered from the care he received (A set of behaviors and actions by an adult with the conscious aim of gaining the trust of a minor an emotional connection with the aim of sexually abusing him) by Peck, with whom he worked during his years The Amanda Showbetween 1999 and 2002.
His dialogue trainer and manager was the one who sexually abused him
Drake Bell reported this He woke up one morning lying on the couch in Brian Peck’s living room and the trainer touched him: “I woke up with him. … I woke up, opened my eyes and he was sexually assaulting me. I froze and was completely shocked. “I had no idea what to do or how to react.”. The actor mentioned that afterward, the coach promised that something like that wouldn’t happen again and then let it go.
People say that Peck manipulated Bell’s mother and others into doing what he wanted with him.so much so that he became Drake’s manager (who was 15 years old) and in the actor/singer’s own words lThe situation got worse and worse over time, to the point where he felt trapped and didn’t know how to end it all.
“He figured out how to convince my mother and everyone around him that every time he had an audition or had to work on dialogue or something, he somehow ended up back at Brian’s house (…) The abuse was extensive and were quietly brutal. I really don’t know how to explain this on camera… Why don’t you think about the worst things someone could do to someone, like sexual assault, and then I’ll answer your question? “I don’t know how else to say it.”
Drake Bell opens up about the sexual abuse he suffered during his early years at Nickelodeon
It wasn’t until the mother of Drake Bell’s then-girlfriend asked why Brian Peck wouldn’t stop calling him that the Nickeoloden actor sought therapy., but he wasn’t ready to share his case yet. “Then I realized it was very calculated. “They (Peck) put all the pieces in place. “It was all mental manipulation.”, said the star Drake and Josh about Peck’s behavior.
This is a topic that many of the channel’s actors have addressed during the documentary about their childhood on the channel’s programs: Well, yes Whether they spoke for themselves or their parents on their behalf, they feared retaliation and never being able to work again.. But finally, In 2003, Bell spoke to police after finally telling her mother: “I have no idea what caused it, what happened, but I just screamed into the phone everything that was happening to me.”
It is now known that Drake Bell was the one who framed Brian Peck and sent him to prison
Drake recalled a “brutal” interview with two detectives and having to call Peck on a tapped phone to admit his guilt. And yes, he did, with a full confession. Brian was charged with eleven counts, including sexual abuse of a child. He was found guilty of lewd acts and oral sex with a minor under 16 years of age and sentenced to 16 months in prison. and registered him as a sex offender. At this time, the identity of the boy who accused him was kept anonymous. but now we know it was Bell.
Immediately after Brian Peck’s arrest Drake Bell recalled a call from Dan Schneider asking if he had anything to do with the case.: “I was so close to Dan that I was like, ‘Yeah, man, he did that.’ Dan just told me, “You don’t have to talk about it anymore.” That’s all I needed to hear. Are you all right? Do you need something from me? Everything you need'”.
According to Drake, Dan Schneider was the only one who supported him in this difficult situation
Then, When asked if other Nickelodeon executives had reached out to him personally, Bell mentioned: “I’m not sure how many people knew who he was. They didn’t really mention it to me, maybe because it was a sensitive topic. But really the only person I remember being there for me was Dan.”. Schneider later made him one of the protagonists of Drake and Josh.
After Drake Bell’s words in the documentary caused a stir Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Children’s Television, Nickelodeon shared a statement to various entertainment media outlets in the United States where they mentioned this They were saddened that one of their most famous faces had to go through this and as such the situation disturbed them.. But they also explained that they made sure that their child stars didn’t have to go through something like that.
“While we cannot confirm or deny allegations of conduct from decades-old productions, Nickelodeon generally investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to promoting a safe and professional work environment free from harassment or other forms of harassment. “Misconduct.” Our top priority is the welfare and welfare of not only our staff, cast and crew, but all children, and we have implemented numerous safeguards over the years to ensure we meet our high standards and audience expectations . Now that Drake Bell has revealed his identity as a plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are shocked and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength it takes to move forward.”
Although in Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Children’s Television, Drake Bell does not speak as such about the allegations that have been made against Dan Schneider over time. Some actors who appeared in some Nickelodeon shows in their childhood, writers and the creative team talk about it and make this clear While the producer ran the channel, he was responsible for instances of sexism, racism and inappropriate behavior.