Topline
Drake Bell alleges for the primary time in a brand new docuseries former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck sexually abused him as a baby, coming ahead because the unnamed youngster actor in Brian Peck’s 2004 conviction.
Key Details
The “Drake & Josh” star alleges Brian Peck sexually abused him when he was 15 in a brand new Investigation Discovery docuseries referred to as “Quiet on Set: The Darkish Aspect of Youngsters TV,” set to air on March 17 and March 18.
Brian Peck—no relation to Bell’s costar Josh Peck—labored as a dialogue coach for reveals like “All That” and “The Amanda Present,” which Bell acted on earlier than getting his personal present in 2004.
Brian Peck, 43 on the time, was arrested in Los Angeles in 2003 for lewd acts with a minor whereas teaching the sufferer at Brian Peck’s house, which occurred round two years earlier than the arrest, based on a press release for the Los Angeles Police Division.
The investigation began after the minor’s household reported to police that the dialogue coach abused the kid over the course of six months; Brian Peck was later sentenced to 16 months in jail and registered as a intercourse offender in October 2004.
That is the primary time Bell is talking out concerning the alleged abuse and revealing himself to be the sufferer in Brian Peck’s case because the minor has remained nameless, based on the docuseries.
Forbes has reached out to Nickelodeon and representatives for Bell and Peck for remark.
Key Background
The “Quiet on Set” docuseries will have a look at the poisonous work tradition of iconic ‘90s and early 2000s reveals created by Dan Schneider, and can function different stars like “Zoey 101” star Alex Nikolas and “All That” star Giovonne Samuels sharing their experiences. Schneider created and produced high Nickelodeon reveals like “The Amanda Present,” “iCarly,” “Zoey 101” and “Victorious.” A number of former youngster actors have spoken out towards abuse from Schneider and different Nickelodeon executives. In her 2022 memoir “I’m Glad My Mother Died,” Jeannette McCurdy alleged a determine—solely known as “The Creator”—pressured her to drink whereas underage, yelled at her whereas filming a kissing scene with a costar and “explicitly” requested bikinis be included in a wardrobe becoming. Nikolas claimed on a podcast in October 2022 Schneider was all the time current for her wardrobes, however was grateful there was a curtain, including she all the time needed to put on quick skirts. Nickelodeon’s former president of content material and manufacturing Russell Hicks claimed all of Schneider’s scripts had been learn over by different executives and fogeys had been all the time on set, so the whole lot he did was “fastidiously scrutinized and permitted.” Schneider beforehand denied allegations about his habits in 2021, telling The New York Instances he “by no means interacted with actors in any method, texting or in any other case, that ought to make anybody uncomfortable.”
Tangent
Bell pleaded responsible to youngster endangerment costs in 2021 after he was accused of grooming and having sexual contact with an underage fan. The sufferer claimed Bell started grooming her on the age of 12, and his messages turned “blatantly sexual” when she turned 15. After accepting a plea deal, Bell was later sentenced to 2 years of probation and 200 hours of neighborhood service in July 2021. Bell spoke concerning the conviction in a 2021 Instagram video, saying the allegations had been “solely false and improper,” and claimed he solely accepted a plea deal to finish issues shortly. He stated his actions had been inappropriate, however claimed he was unaware of her age and solely interacted along with her by way of textual content messages, and didn’t have any bodily contact.
Tangent
“Boy Meets World” stars Rider Sturdy and Will Friedle alleged on their podcast final month that Brian Peck groomed them when he was a visitor star on their present. The 2 claimed Brian Peck befriended them whereas on the present, although he was about 20 years their senior, and would usually hang around with them at events and dinners exterior of filming. Friedle stated Brian Peck referred to as him after his 2003 arrest and made it look like he was being manipulated and brought benefit of by the kid star concerned with the case. Sturdy and Friedle supported Brian Peck in courtroom and wrote letters of assist to the decide over the case, although they declare they weren’t advised the total story. The 2 later went on to specific “disgrace” for supporting Brian Peck throughout his trial.
Additional Studying
‘Revealing’ teen costumes, on-set massages, and a gender-discrimination grievance: Inside Dan Schneider’s ‘disgusting’ Nickelodeon empire (Enterprise Insider)
Rider Sturdy and Will Friedle Element Alleged Manipulation and Grooming by ‘Boy Meets World’ Visitor Star Brian Peck (Selection)
Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell pleads responsible to youngster endangerment costs (NBC Information)
Drake Bell receives probation on youngster endangerment cost (AP Information)