Drake Bell asks fans to “take it a little easy” on Josh Peck
Amid the fallout from Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, the former Drake & Josh star wants fans to lay off his co-star
Photo: Kevin Winter
The response to ID’s Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV has been swift and extensive. Among the most discussed documentary series in recent memory, Quiet On Set exposed the systematic abuse that befell young Nickelodeon stars by the people expected to protect them. Chief among the accusers is Drake Bell, the star of Drake & Josh, who says he was abused by former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck. Bell accuses Brian Peck of sexual abuse beginning when he was 15. He said the abuse was “extensive” and “brutal.”
“Think of the worst thing that someone could do to somebody as a sexual assault, and that’ll answer your question,” he said.
Brian Peck is not related to Bell’s co-star Josh Peck. However, because they share a common last name, Peck has been attacked on social media. Per Deadline, Drake posted a video on TikTok to clarify things and defend his former screen partner.
“I’ve noticed a lot of comments on some of Josh’s TikToks and some of his posts,” Bell said. “I just want to let you guys know that this is really, you know, processing this and going through this is a really emotional time, and a lot of it’s very, very difficult. So not everything is put out to the public.”
“But I just want you guys to know that he has reached out to me and it’s been very sensitive. But he has reached out to to talk with me and help me work through this. And has been really, really great. So just wanted to let you guys know that and to take it a little easy on him.”
@drakebell
In the years since Drake & Josh’s finale, Peck and Bell have not been particularly close. At one point, Peck referred to their lack of communication as a “dirty little secret,” which led to Peck not inviting Bell to his wedding, setting off a backlash against him. The pair eventually patched things up.