Drake Bell Opens Up About Life After Sexual Abuse Revelation in ‘Quiet on Set’

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Exactly a year ago, Investigation Discovery unveiled “Quiet on Set: The Hidden Scandals of Kids’ TV,” a five-part documentary series delving into the off-screen misconduct within children’s entertainment. Streamable with a Max subscription, the series primarily focused on the working environment at Nickelodeon during Dan Schneider’s tenure as producer. Drake Bell, one of the interviewees, disclosed that he had experienced sexual abuse in the past. Now, Bell is speaking out candidly about his life after the documentary.

Drake Bell recently disclosed that while working at Nickelodeon, he was subjected to sexual abuse by Brian Peck, who used to be his dialogue coach. In 2003, Peck, known for working on numerous children’s shows during the early 2000s, was taken into custody and faced 11 charges of inappropriate behavior with a minor. He was eventually convicted on two counts and sentenced to serve 16 months in prison and register as a sex offender. During that time, it wasn’t public knowledge that Bell was among the minors who were victims in this case.

Following the broadcast of the documentary, the former Amanda Show cast member has been very open about his past and current mental state. A year on since the controversial show premiered, it appears that the ex-child star has no regrets. In an interview with People, the 38-year-old actor expressed feeling liberated from a weight, stating he now feels relieved.

After sharing my burden, it feels like a substantial load has been eased. The journey of emotions I’ve experienced isn’t something that can be trivialized with an easy solution. So let me clarify: Sharing your story won’t magically erase the pain or make everything perfect overnight. However, having someone to lean on during the process makes it a little less daunting and more bearable.

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Following the actor’s story being shared on the show, several individuals responded, including Dan Schneider. In relation to the documentary, Schneider stated he had attempted to contact the star of Drake & Josh around the time of the trial, offering support. Reflecting on the situation, the creator of iCarly expressed that he was “more disheartened by this than anything that has ever happened to [him] in my career thus far.” Regarding the documentary itself, Schneider expressed criticism and eventually filed a lawsuit against the producers, claiming defamation.

Following the cancellation of the show, Drake Bell talked about other aspects of the abuse he experienced. This included reading the supportive letters Brian Peck received during the trial. Notable stars like James Marsden, Rider Strong, Taran Killam, and the late Alan Thicke wrote in defense of Peck. Later, Bell conversed with Strong and Will Friedle, who also penned a letter and mentioned they had a heartwarming conversation. To this day, the former Nick star cherishes these messages and the fact that others are now opening up about their own experiences with him.

Instead of strangers approaching me at the airport for selfies like before, they’re now approaching me to share their personal stories. They say things like, “I saw your documentary and after your interview, I finally shared something with my husband that I’ve never told anyone.” I didn’t anticipate that the piece would have such a profound effect on people.

Previously famed adolescent star Drake Bell acknowledges the oddness of his past being widely recognized today. Yet, he’s grateful for the increased respect towards much of his earlier work. In terms of acting ventures, Drake Bell has expressed interest in collaborating with Josh Peck once more if presented with the chance. It’s clear that discussing his experiences with abuse wasn’t simple, but it’s heartening to observe him finding optimism following such adversity.

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2025-03-23 02:37