Nickelodeon “saddened” as Drake Bell opens up about sexual abuse on set

One-time Drake & Josh star Drake Bell spoke about incidents of sexual assault and abuse by dialogue coach Brian Peck when the star was just a child. Bell detailed the abuse in the third episode of Investigation Discover’s four-part docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. The episodes will be aired on March 17 and 18.

As per a Deadline report, Peck was arrested in 2003 on eleven charges, including sodomy, lewd act upon a child 14 or 15 by a person 10 years older, and oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance, but the minor was never named.

Bell, in the docuseries, revealed that he was the minor and the abuse occurred during Bell’s time on The Amanda Show from 1999-2002.

Peck, in 2004, pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14 or 15-year-old. He spent 16 months in prison and was required to register as a sex offender.

After Bell’s spoke out, Nickelodeon released the following statement. “Now that Drake Bell has 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.”

Bell said he looked up to Peck, who later became his manager, as a friend. However, things changed one morning at Peck’s house.

“I was sleeping on the couch where I would usually sleep. I woke up to him — I opened my eyes, I woke up and he was sexually assaulting me,” Bell described in the docuseries.

“I froze and was in complete shock and had no idea what to do or how to react, and I have no idea how to get out of this situation,” Bell said. The actor said it “became this secret” because questions would be raised if he stopped going to Peck’s home.

“He figured out how to convince my mom and everyone around to, anytime I would have an audition or anytime I needed to work on dialogue or anything, I somehow ended up back at Brian’s house and it just got worse and worse and worse and worse. I was just trapped. I had no way out,” said Bell. “The abuse was extensive and it got pretty brutal. I don’t know how to elaborate on that on camera, really… Why don’t you think of the worst stuff that someone could do to somebody as a sexual assault, and then I’ll answer your question. I don’t know how else to put it.”

Nickelodeon also released a statement regarding alleged behaviors on past production sets.

“Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct, the statement read.

“Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.”

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