Drake Bell Talks to Josh Peck About Nickelodeon Abuse
People who grew up watching Drake & Josh saw an emotional moment between Drake Bell and Josh Peck. Bell joined Peck’s Good Guys podcast to talk about a painful time in his life—when he was abused as a child actor on Nickelodeon.
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Drake Bell Shares His Story
In 2023, Bell said in a documentary (Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV) that he was abused by Brian Peck, a Nickelodeon dialogue coach (not related to Josh Peck). For many years, Bell kept this secret, even from his close friends. On the podcast, he talked about how this affected his life and his time on Drake & Josh.
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What Happened on Set
Bell said that after The Amanda Show ended in 2002, he told his mom about the abuse. They went to the police, but Brian Peck still worked at Nickelodeon while they investigated.
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“When we filmed the first episode of Drake & Josh, the investigation was still happening,” Bell said. “No one knew because Brian wasn’t arrested yet. The worst part was having the person who hurt me in a place that should have been safe.”
Bell was only 14 or 15 years old. He had to see his abuser while acting on the show. The stress made him sick—his hair fell out, and he had sores on his head.
Josh Peck’s Reaction
Peck said he didn’t know what was going on at the time. “I was just a kid, and I thought, ‘Oh, Drake doesn’t want to be my friend.’”
In 2004, Brian Peck was arrested and later went to prison for 18 months after admitting to abusing a child under 16. But many people at Nickelodeon still didn’t know what happened to Bell.
“I had a feeling something was wrong,” Peck said. “I remember asking Drake, ‘Do you still talk to Brian?’ And Drake just said, ‘No, Brian is a really bad guy.’ That was all I needed to know.”
Hollywood’s Problem: No Protection for Kids
Bell and Peck talked about how child actors were not protected in Hollywood. Peck said that some things on set were wrong, but people acted like it was normal.
“When I was 14, I knew something wasn’t right,” Peck said. “But bad things happened all the time, so we just thought, ‘This is Hollywood.’”
Because no one paid attention, abuse continued behind the scenes, and young actors suffered in silence.
Drake & Josh: Good Memories and Hard Times
Even though Bell went through so much pain, he still loves Drake & Josh.
“People tell me, ‘Don’t worry, Drake, we won’t watch the show again because of what you went through,’” Bell said. “But I don’t want that. When the cameras were rolling and Josh was wearing a funny dress, that’s when I was happiest. I loved the show.”
Peck agreed. He said the show was special to them, but they couldn’t ignore the bad things that happened behind the scenes.
An Important Conversation
Bell’s talk with Peck was emotional but important. It showed the dangers of child stardom, the need for better rules in Hollywood, and the strength of survivors.
Also Read: Ben Affleck on J.Lo Split: ‘It’s Not What People Think’
Nickelodeon’s Dark Side
Bell’s story is just one of many. More former child stars are speaking out about problems at Nickelodeon. The Quiet on Set documentary has made people talk about Hollywood’s lack of responsibility. Now, many actors are asking for better protection for kids.
What’s Next for Drake Bell?
Bell wants to help others by sharing his story. He hopes to raise awareness about child abuse in Hollywood and push for better rules to protect young actors. Even though his past was painful, he is using his voice to make a difference.
The first part of Bell’s interview is out now. The second part will be released on March 27.
Need Help?
If you or someone you know has been abused, help is available. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org for free, private support.
