Drake Bell, known for his role in ‘Drake and Josh,’ recently spoke out about his experiences with childhood abuse, shedding light on his former co-star, Josh Peck. Bell revealed that Peck has extended support to him in light of the abuse allegations featured in the Investigation Discovery documentary.
In the documentary series ‘Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,’ Bell disclosed that he was subjected to abuse by his former voice coach, Brian Peck. It’s worth noting that Brian Peck was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a child actor from Nickelodeon in 2004. However, the identity of the minor involved was not disclosed during the investigation. Bell, who was only 15 at the time, has now come forward as the victim of that abuse.
Following Bell’s revelation, many online criticized Josh Peck for his silence on the matter. The duo starred together in ‘Drake & Josh’ for four seasons, spanning from 2004 to 2007. Netizens flooded Peck’s social media accounts with comments expressing disappointment at his apparent lack of response. One commenter wrote, “The silence is so deafening, Josh… it’s heartbreaking,” while another condemned Peck’s silence as “appalling.”
In response to the backlash, Drake Bell posted a TikTok video to clarify the situation. He revealed that Peck had reached out to him privately, urging fans to be understanding of Peck’s situation. Bell emphasized that dealing with the aftermath of abuse is an emotional and challenging process, and not all details are shared publicly. He expressed gratitude for Peck’s support and asked fans to show compassion towards him.
“I need to clarify something,” Bell stated in the video. “I’ve noticed numerous comments on Josh’s TikToks and posts, and I want to emphasize that dealing with this situation is incredibly emotional and challenging.” He continued, “Not everything can be shared publicly, but I want you all to know that he [Peck] has reached out to me. Our conversations have been sensitive, but he’s been supportive and helpful as I navigate through this. So, I just wanted to update you all on that and ask for a bit of understanding.”