One yr in the past, Investigation Discovery launched Quiet on Set: The Darkish Facet of Youngsters TV, a five-part docuseries about behind-the-scenes indiscretions within the realm of kids’s programming. On the heart of the present (which is accessible to stream with a Max subscription) was the office environment at Nickelodeon throughout the tenure of former producer Dan Schneider. As a part of the manufacturing, Drake Bell was interviewed and revealed he’d been sexually abused years in the past. Now, he’s opening up about life post-QoS.
Drake Bell revealed within the doc that whereas working at Nick, he was sexually abused by former dialogue coach Brian Peck. In 2003, Peck – who labored on a wide range of kid-centric exhibits within the early aughts – was arrested and formally charged with 11 counts of lewd conduct with a minor. He was finally discovered responsible on two counts and was subsequently ordered to serve 16 months in jail and register as a intercourse offender. On the time, Bell’s identification as one of many minors concerned within the case was not divulged.
Shortly after the doc aired, the Amanda Present alum has been extremely candid about his experiences and mind-set. With a yr now having handed because the extensively mentioned present debuted, the previous little one star doesn’t appear to have any regrets. The 38-year-old actor shared his emotions whereas talking with Folks, to whom he stated he’d now been relieved of a burden:
It has been a very nice weight lifted. It is a curler coaster of feelings. I do not wish to sugarcoat it and make the message, ‘Hey, all you bought to do is simply inform anyone and get your story out and whenever you get up the subsequent day, it will be gone and all the pieces’s going to be positive and you are going to stroll via life with none ache or sorrow or unhappiness!’ It is all the time going to be there, however it’s so much nicer getting help.
Numerous folks responded after the actor shared his story on the present, with Dan Schneider being one among them. Whereas sharing his response to the doc, Schneider claimed he reached out to the Drake & Josh star, across the time of the trial, to supply help. Recounting the incident, the iCarly creator stated he was “extra devastated by that than something that ever occurred to [him] in my profession up to now.” As for the doc itself, Schneider was crucial of it, and finally filed go well with in opposition to the producers on the grounds of alleged defamation.
After the sequence dropped, Drake Bell mentioned different points of the abuse he confronted. That included studying the letters of help Brian Peck acquired amid the trial. A number of notable stars wrote in on Peck’s behalf, resembling James Marsden, Rider Robust, Taran Killam and the late Alan Thicke. Bell later heard from Robust and Will Friedle, who additionally wrote a letter and stated that they had a “actually candy” chat. The Nick alum nonetheless appreciates these sentiments and the truth that others at the moment are sharing their tales personal experiences with him:
It is actually nice to have experiences now the place, as an alternative of strolling via the airport and having folks come up and ask for a selfie, they’re developing and sharing their tales and saying, ‘I watched your documentary and after your interview, I opened as much as my husband. It is one thing I’ve by no means advised anyone.’ I did not anticipate to have for the piece to have that sort of influence on folks.
Whereas the previous teen idol does discover it considerably unusual that “all people is aware of” about his previous now, he appreciates that many are additionally reappraising a number of his previous work. As for his appearing profession, Drake Bell additionally stated he’d reteam with Josh Peck for one more mission if given the chance. It’s evident that it wasn’t straightforward for Bell to open up concerning the abuse, however it’s comforting to see that he’s discovered positivity on the opposite aspect of it.