Popular Nickelodeon child actor Drake Bell recently came forward with shocking allegations during his time as a young star on the network.
In a new documentary series, Bell revealed that he was inappropriately taken advantage of by a Nickelodeon dialogue coach named Brian Peck when he was just 15 years old.
This issue allegedly occurred while Bell was working on The Amanda Show, which aired on Nickelodeon from 1999 to 2002.
The documentary series titled Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV sheds light on the conditions of shows created by Dan Schneider in the ’90s and early 2000s, including the experiences of child actors like Bell.
The series features interviews with former child stars and crew members, allowing them to share their stories.
Bell's revelation comes when other Nickelodeon stars have faced personal challenges in adulthood.
For example, Jennette McCurdy, Amanda Bynes, and Alexa Nikolas have all experienced difficulties in their lives after their time as child actors on Nickelodeon shows.
The documentary also explores the responses of other former child stars to the allegations against Peck.
Boy Meets World stars Rider Strong, Will Friedle, and Danielle Fishel were approached by the docuseries but chose to address their history with Peck on their podcast instead.
Friedle shared his experience of feeling conflicted and horrified during Peck's court case. He had supported Peck only to later realize the gravity of the situation.
Fishel suggested that there may have been hesitancy to question relationships on set due to Peck's sexuality, highlighting the importance of maintaining boundaries between adults and children in such environments.
In addition to sharing his own story of abuse, Drake Bell has faced a series of personal challenges in recent years, including legal issues and struggles with substance abuse.
Bell, now 37, had started his journey from the Amanda show in 1999 was 15 at the time he reportedly faced perverse relations from his 41-year-old dialogue coach.
After over 20 years of remaining anonymous, Bell has finally decided to voice his experiences publicly.
It's obvious Bell has had a difficult life. According to reports, the Nickelodeon star has served 2 years on probation and an additional 200 hours of community service after being found guilty of child endangerment offenses.
Despite the difficulties he has faced, Bell's decision to speak out about his experiences sheds light on the darker side of the entertainment industry and the need for better protection of child actors.
The allegations against Brian Peck may not have gone entirely unpunished as he was sentenced to 16 months in prison while also having to register as an offender in 2004.
As the documentary series Quiet on Set continues to unfold, it is clear that the experiences of child actors on Nickelodeon shows are more complex than what is seen on screen.
By sharing their stories, individuals like Drake Bell are shedding light on the industry's darker side and paving the way for better protection and support for young performers in the future.