This article discusses a recent revelation in the entertainment industry regarding child sex abuse. Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell came forward with allegations of abuse by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck. The abuse reportedly occurred when Drake was 14 years old and working on The Amanda Show. Drake shared his story in the ID docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, where he detailed instances of abuse by Brian Peck, who was significantly older than him.
Drake recounted a disturbing incident where he woke up to find himself being sexually assaulted by Brian at his home. This abuse continued over time, with Drake feeling trapped and unable to escape the situation. Eventually, Brian was arrested and served a 16-month sentence after pleading no contest to child sex abuse charges.
Following the release of the docuseries, Drake received support from his former Nickelodeon colleagues, including his onscreen mom and other cast members. Josh Peck, who acted alongside Drake in Drake & Josh, initially remained silent but later expressed his support for the survivors of abuse in the industry. He emphasized the importance of protecting children and bringing about necessary changes to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Drake defended Josh against public criticism for his initial silence, revealing that Josh had reached out to him privately. Drake urged understanding and compassion towards his former co-star, highlighting the emotional difficulty of reliving such traumatic experiences publicly.
If you suspect a child is experiencing or at risk of abuse, you can contact the National Child Abuse Hotline for assistance. Similarly, individuals who have experienced sexual assault can seek help by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which connects them to local service providers for support and guidance.
