Drake Bell opens up about his choice to take part in the ID docuseries “Quiet On Set” where he bravely shares his personal experience of being sexually abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck.
During an interview with Today that aired on Monday, the Nickelodeon alum was questioned about his motivation behind sharing his story for the first time in the documentary after such a long time.
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He expressed, “Emotionally and mentally, things were spinning out of control. I believed that this could aid in the process of healing and offer support to others who have experienced similar situations.”
In a revealing interview on the show “Quiet on Set,” Bell made a shocking confession. He bravely came forward as the anonymous young actor who had accused Peck of sexual abuse when he was only 15 years old. The 2004 conviction led to Peck being sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Nickelodeon, a popular platform for young actors to kickstart their careers in front of the camera, informed Today that they have taken significant steps to prevent abuse within their network. These measures include the employment of welfare workers, the mandatory presence of parents or guardians on set with child actors, and thorough criminal background checks.
According to Bell, determining whether those measures could have prevented abusers like Peck is difficult. He stated, “Brian would have cleared a background check.”
In the interview, Bell, who is now 37 years old, was questioned about the 2021 case where he was accused of engaging in inappropriate conversations with a minor. He acknowledged his guilt and was subsequently placed on two years of probation and assigned 200 hours of community service. During his appearance on Today, Bell reaffirmed his previous statement that he was unaware of the true age of the teenage girl involved. He admitted that there were messages exchanged that should not have taken place, leading to his guilty plea. However, once he became aware of her age, he ceased all communication.
Living in New Mexico and focusing on creating new music, Bell has taken the opportunity to reflect on what he would say to his younger self. When asked about this, he expressed, “There is so much I would want to convey to that little boy, given the confusion and turmoil he experienced. I would tell him to prepare himself.”
“You will face challenges and experience pain, and I cannot offer a clear solution to overcome them. However, you must be prepared for these hardships,” he expressed. “Yet, I have now reached a point where I can return to him, embrace him, and assure him that everything will be alright.”
