Former Nickelodeon Star Drake Bell to Reveal Alleged Sexual Abuse in New Docuseries
Drake Bell, once a beloved child star known for his roles in popular Nickelodeon shows like Drake & Josh and The Amanda Show, is set to expose a dark secret from his past. In an upcoming docuseries titled Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, Bell will bravely share his story of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Brian Peck, his former dialogue coach. This revelation marks the first time Bell will publicly discuss the abuse he endured during his rise to fame.
The press release for the docuseries, shared with Variety, states that Bell will open up about “the story of the abuse he suffered at the hands of Brian Peck, his former dialogue coach.” A teaser for the series shows Bell taking a seat after another interviewee speculates about who Peck might have “hurt,” leaving viewers eagerly awaiting Bell’s testimony.
Brian Peck, a dialogue coach for Nickelodeon, was arrested in 2003 and subsequently convicted of child molestation in 2004. He pleaded no contest to committing a lewd act against a child and engaging in oral copulation with a minor under 16. Peck served 16 months in prison and is now a registered sex offender. The identity of his victim was never publicly disclosed, but the press release claims that Bell was the victim in this case.
It is important to note that the abuse allegedly occurred after The Amanda Show ended in 2002 and before the pilot episode of Drake & Josh aired in January 2004. This means that the abuse took place during a pivotal period in Bell’s career, as he transitioned from one successful show to another.
The timing of Bell’s revelation comes just weeks after former Boy Meets World stars Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle discussed their experiences with Peck on their podcast, Pod Meets World. The trio, accompanied by a family therapist, shared how Peck had groomed and manipulated them. Friedle revealed that Peck had become a close friend and even attended multiple shows with him after Boy Meets World ended. Both Strong and Friedle initially stood by Peck after his arrest, writing supportive character letters to the judge and appearing at his sentencing hearing. However, they now acknowledge the harm he caused and regret their previous support.
Bell’s life after Nickelodeon has been tumultuous, marred by arrests and allegations of substance abuse. In 2021, he faced charges of child endangerment for sending sexually explicit text messages to a teenage girl several years prior when he was 31. Bell accepted a plea deal that sentenced him to two years of probation without requiring him to register as a sex offender. During his sentencing, his victim accused him of grooming and assaulting her, expressing the profound impact it had on her life.
In his statement at the hearing, Bell apologized for his actions and expressed remorse for the harm caused. He stated, “I’m sorry that the victim was harmed in any way, but that was obviously not my intention. I have taken this matter very, very seriously. And again, I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions.”
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is scheduled to air on Investigation Discovery on March 17 and 18. The docuseries aims to shed light on the toxic work environments and alleged abuse that occurred on the sets of popular Nickelodeon shows created by Dan Schneider, including Drake & Josh, The Amanda Show, Zoey 101, iCarly, Victorious, Sam & Cat, and more. Viewers can expect a deep dive into the disturbing realities behind the scenes of these beloved children’s programs.
Drake Bell’s decision to share his story in this docuseries serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of addressing and confronting abuse in the entertainment industry. As more survivors come forward, it is crucial that we listen, support, and advocate for change to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
