Drake Bell, a former Nickelodeon star, is set to reveal his experience of alleged abuse by his former dialogue coach, Brian Peck, for the first time in the upcoming docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
A newly released clip for the four-part series shared alongside a press release on Tuesday, hints at Bell’s account of the abuse he allegedly endured as a child actor under Peck’s supervision.
The four-part series aims to delve into claims of a toxic environment on ’90s sets associated with Dan Schneider, the creator behind Nickelodeon’s popular programs such as The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, iCarly, Victorious, and Sam & Cat.
Schneider, credited with launching the careers of Kenan Thompson, Amanda Bynes, Victoria Justice, Miranda Cosgrove, Jennette McCurdy, and others, faces scrutiny as the series investigates allegations surrounding the working conditions during that era.
In the latest clip, an unidentified individual interviewed brings up Peck, stating,
“To hear Brian Peck was a sexual predator, it made me wonder immediately about who was being hurt.”
The spotlight then shifts to Bell, who takes a seat, signaling his readiness to discuss his encounters with Peck. However, the footage concludes before Bell starts recounting his story, leaving viewers in suspense about his forthcoming revelations.
In 2003, Peck faced allegations of molesting a child, leading to his subsequent conviction for a lewd act against a child and oral copulation of a person under 16. He served a 16-month prison sentence.
According to a release for the upcoming docuseries, Bell will publicly share his experience of abuse by Peck for the first time. Peck, Bell’s former dialogue coach, was convicted in 2004 for his crimes against Bell and was ordered to register as a sex offender.
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is scheduled to premiere across two nights on ID, March 17 and 18. The series aims to shed light on the experiences of former child stars who encountered abuse, sexism, and racism while working on hit series for Nickelodeon.
Boy Meets World stars Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle have recently come forward, sharing their experiences of alleged grooming by Peck. They disclosed how they became acquainted with him following a two-episode appearance on the popular ’90s show.
“There’s an actual victim here. And he turned us against the victim to where now we’re on his team. That’s the thing where, to me, I look back at that as my ever-loving shame for this entire [thing],” Friedle said on their podcast, Pod Meets World. “Getting taken in by somebody who’s a good actor and a manipulator, I could chalk that up to being young and that’s the way it is. It’s awful.”
Bell, known for his roles on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh, garnered attention in 2021 following his guilty plea to child endangerment charges.
He received a two-year probation sentence and 200 hours of community service for his interactions spanning several years with a fan he met online while she was a minor.
In 2023, Bell made headlines once more when he was reported missing in Daytona, Florida. His sudden disappearance sparked concern, only for him to resurface hours later, questioning the attention his absence generated after leaving his phone in the car overnight.
